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AMERICAN 



WEEDS AND USEFUL PLANTS: 

BEING A 

^tmxis Hiiir Illustrate!) &itm 

OF 

AGRIOULTUEAL BOTANY: 



EKDMERATION AXD DESCRIPTION OF USEFUL PLANTS AND WEEDS, WHICH 
MERIT THE NOTICE, OR REQUIRE THE ATTENTION OF 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURISTS. 



P,Y WILLIAM DARLINGTO^^, M. D. 



Hie Scgctes, illic veniunt fclicius Uvoe : 
Arborci fetus alibi, atque injassa virescunt 
Gramina. Yirgii., Geoeg. 1. 

Here golden harvests wave, there Vineyards glow, 
Fruit bends the bough, or Kerbs unbidden grow. 

Sotuehy. 



( 

nOF. OF MAT. MED. ASD BOTA^•Y, ETC., IN THE N. T. , COUiGE OF PHARMACT. 



REVISED, WITH ADDITIONS, BY 

GEORGE TIIURBER, 

BOTA^•Y, ETC., IN 1 

NEW-YORK: 
ORANGE JUDD COMPANY. 

245 BROADWAY. 

1879. 



-3 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1859, by 
A. 0. MOORE & CO. 
In the Clerk's Office of tlie District Court for the Southern District of New YotS. 



TO THE YOUNG FARMERS 

©f t^e Sntttlr .States, 
THIS HUMBLE A.TTEMPT 

TO AID A>"D PEESTTADE THEM 

O CULTIVATE A DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE 

ESSENTIAL TO AN EXLIGHTEXED AGRICULTURE, 
AND 

rfOJlSPE^fSABLE TO AN ACCOMPLISHED YEOMANRY, 

|s rtspetlfuUg bebicaleb bg 

THE AUTHOR. 



CONTENTS. 



Paoi 

DEDICATION, . . . . . . . iii 

EDITOR'S PREFACE, . . . . . . ^ii 

PREFACE TO FIRST EDITION, . . . . ^ ix 

REMARKS OX WEEDS, . . ' . . . xiii 

STRUCTURAL BOTAXY, .1 

ANALYTICAL KEY TO NATURAL ORDERS, . , 16 
BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION : 

POLTPETALOUS EXOGEXS, . • • . 25 

MOXOPETALOUS " ... ,160 

Apetalous 268 

Gtxixospermous " . . . . . . 333 

EXDOGEXS, . . . . . . 344 

GLOSSARY OF BOTANICAL TERMS, . . . .415 

ABBREVIATIONS OF AUTHORS' NAMES, . . 434 

INDEX OF BOTANICAL NAMES, . . 43 G 

INDEX OF ENGLISH AND FOREIGN NAMES, . . 442 

NAMES OF THE PLANTS ILLUSTRATED, . . .459 



EDITOR'S PREFACE. 



A new edition of Doct. Darlington's Agricultural Botany having been 
called for, and as the author, at his advanced age, felt indisposed to as- 
sume the labor of a revision, the work was placed in my hands to pre- 
pare for the press, with the author's permission to make such changes 
and additions as might seem desirable; Such alterations have been made 
in the botanical arrangement, and names, as the advance of the science 
required, and descriptions have been added of such plants, not included 
in the former edition, as are generally known as weeds. Besides these, 
I have noticed the common medicinal plants, and such of our native 
shrubs as are worthy of cultivation, — those that are both ornamental 
and easily obtained. These latter may not strictly come within the class 
of " useful," but are introduced with the hope of inducing farmers to 
render the exterior of their homes more attractive by surrounding them 
with beautiful shrubbery, which, once planted, will be a permanent 
source of gratification not only to the possessors, but to travelers who 
pass them. The yards of our country dwellings generally present a for- 
lorn appearance, which the attempt often made to cultivate a few coarse 
flowering plants, rather increases than removes. 

In the introduction of new plants, the plan of the original work has 
been conformed to, and the descriptions of these are taken from Darling- 
ton's Flora Cestrica, when that work contained them ; in other cases, 
those in Torrey's Flora of the State of New Tork, and Gray's Manual 
of the Botany of the Northern States have been used. 

I am exceedingly indebted to Prof. Gray for permission to use his 
Analytical Key to the Natural Orders, and have modified it, as well as 
some of his Synopses of Orders and Genera, to suit the present work. 
Doct. CW. Short, of Keutacky, has kindly furnished notes on some of 

[vii] 



vm 



editoe's peeface. 



the troublesome plants of the West, which have becu acknowledged in 
the proper places. I am also indebted to I. A. Lapha:^, Esq., for his 
offer, which came too late to be available, to furnish notes upon the 
weeds of Wisconsin. The more important illustrations in the work are 
from original drawings, by Anthony Hochstein, Esq., whose delicate 
sketches have hardly justice done them by being rendered in wood. The 
most of his drawings are designated by his initials. The remainder of the 
engravings were obtained from the best available sources. My friend, 
Mr. Frank A. Pollard, has rendered me most essential aid, both be- 
fore and during the rapid printing of the work, which I would gratefully 
acknowledge. 

Where new observations or other matter has been added, or the old 
ones essentially modified, a has been appended. This, however, hag 
been omitted where the alterations are unimportant ; in these cases any 
faults may be placed to the account of the editor. 
The specific names of native plants are printed in Full'faced typo, 
those of cultivated species in Small Capitals, and the names of weeds 
of foreign origin are given in Italics, 

'N'ew Yosk, January ZUt, 1859. 



PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITIOjN". 



AcRicrLTURE, in a broad and legitimate sense, being a comprehensive 
Bjstem of Natural Science — involving more especially a practical 
acquaintance with the useful portion of the Vegetable Creation, — 
I have long thought it due to the Profession, and desirable in every point 
of view, that the young Farmers of the United States should acquire ac 
exact knowledge of the Plants which it immediately concerns them tc 
know ; and that they should be enabled to designate, and treat of them, 
with the precision and methodical perspicuity which belong to scientific 
language and arrangement. Under this impression, and in the hope of 
promoting an object deemed so important, the present work has been 
compiled. In submitting- it to those for whom it is more particularly 
intended, I am not unaware that its technical features are ill-suited to 
the notions of many plodding disciples of the old school of Agriculture, 
who despise every form of knowledge derivable from Books, — and whose 
ideas never stray beyond the manual operations of the field and the barn- 
yard. It is scarcely probable, indeed, that any written treatise — though 
couched in the most familiar dialect — would obviate the objections, or 
conciliate the prejudices of sucTi antiquated tillers of the soil. M;y 
views, therefore, have not been directed to that unpromising quarter. J 
address myself to the youthful and aspiring Agriculturists of our country 
who seek "to elevate their noble Profession to its just rank among humao 
pursuits, — and who feel that the exercise of intellect, as well as of muscle, 
is indispensable to the accomplishment of their purpose. 

I have preferred to treat of the Plants, which it more immediately 
behooves the farmer to be acquainted with, according to the most approved 
method of our day, and in the language of Systematic Botany. By 
exhibiting as much of the classification, or frame-work of the Science, 
as is requisite to present the Genera and Species, here described, in 
their natural and relative positions, the Student will be enabled to com- 
prehend their connection with the other portions of the System, and to 
examine them, as the Geologists say, in situ. In that process, he will 
necessarily have to learn something of their structure, and essential 
character ; and that I should consider as an important advantage, — even 
if his researches should there terminate. His knowledge, however lim- 
ited, will be established on a correct basis, — and will be always avail- 
able in his intercourse with men of science : but, to those who may 
subsequently resolve upon a more extended acquaintance with the vege- 
table kingdom, such knowledge will be a clear gain, and a valuable pre- 
(ix) 



X 



rilEFACE TO THE FIE5T EDITION. 



liminary step ; — that step whicli, according to the proverb, is the only 
one which costs. 

In adopting the machinery of Science, — preferring the botanical to 
the popular names of plants, as well as arranging them in kindred groups 
— I have supposed that such a plan would be most conducive to accuracy 
of conception, — and would, in fact, facilitate the investigation of their 
true character. By employing names and phrases which have an exclu- 
sive application, and a definite meaning, the study of plants is really 
simplified ; and the knowledge acquired — being thereby communicable 
with more readiness and precision — is greatly enhanced in practical 
value. By using, everywhere, the same terms in the same sense, men of 
different regions, or districts, can be sure that they comprehend each 
other's meaning. — and may then discuss questions understandingly. When 
disputes arise, touching the merits or demerits of 23articular plants, both 
parties will have clear conceptions of the objects referred to, — and will 
consequently have the advantage of knowing exactly what they are talk- 
ing about : — which is far from being always the case when they make 
use of a variable popular nomenclature. 

It is a great mistake, in my opinion, to suppose that the significant 
language of our Science must necessarily be merged in the vernacular 
idiom, or degraded into a local patois, in order to adapt it to the capaci- 
ties of intelligent practical men. An active intellect, I think, more 
readily acquires new terms, appropriate to a Science, than new meanings 
of old familiar words : and hence it is that most persons, as they advance 
in any department of knowledge, are apt to discard all equivocal terms, 
and to substitute those which are definite, technical, aud peculiar. In- 
stead, therefore, of writing down to the level of boorish apprehension, I 
would rather see Agricultural works gradually icritten -up to the scien- 
tific standard. I would have our young Farmers taught to appreciate 
the importance of scientific precision, and incited to take their ajjpro- 
priate position in the intellectual community. 

In the present work, it is hoped and believed that with the aid of 
the copious Glossary, the Index of Common Names, and the other 
facilities annexed, there can be no difficulty in becoming familiar 
with the terms employed, nor in the investigation of the plants enumer- 
ated:'^ and the farmer who shall have accomplished that much, will 
find that he has obtained many new and interesting views of objects 
intimately connected with his Profession, — that he has acquired a capac 
ity for observmg and profiting by numerous processes and phenomeno 



* As a convenient and satisfactory mode of acquiring the requisite Botanical knowledgt 
— a.nd of keeping that knowledge always within reach, in case of forgetfulness. — I would 
recommend to the young Farmer the formation of a select Herbariuvi, containing authen 
tic specimens — neatly prepared and appropriately labelled — ^of those plants which it is 
his interest to be acquainted with. Such a collection could readily be obtained by everj 
one who has the taste, or even the curiosity, to extend his information in that direction 
It would atford instructive subjects for iavesligation and comparison, in seasons of leisure 
and the contents, being dnly arraagad, couM be examined or referred to, with the lilf 
facilities aud advantages as attend the consultation of a Dictionary. 



PEEFACE TO THE FIKST EDlTIOX. 



Xi 



in the v^eiablc economy, -^vhicli Lad theretofore been nDheeded, or im- 
perfectly understood. A spirit of research will often be awakened, 
which, in itself, is an unfailing source of gratification to ingenuous 
minds, — and not unfrequentlv leads to important practical results. 

The study of Botany, in its widest sense — comprising, as it does, the 
entire regetable creation. — will ever have its select votaries in those 
who can appreciate its manifold charms, and find their reward in the 
pleasures incident to the pursuit : But when regarded in a more limited 
and practical point of view, it may fairly challenge the attention even 
of the most inveterate Utilitarians. There are three aspects, or relations 
of the Science, in which its importance will scarcely be denied by the 
most penurious calculator of economical values : namely, 1. A2:ricuJ.tural 
Botany, — 2. Medical Botany, — and 3. Afiisfical Botany, or the history 
of those plants which are employed, or afford materials, in the processes 
of the Arts and Manufactures. The Jlcdical branch of the science has 
been often treated of, with something like system, by the Professional 
"Writers of Europe and America. The other two divisions less fre- 
quently, and with less method, in various Agricultural Journals, Cyclo- 
ptedias, and Mercantile Dictionari:s. The attempt here made is an essay 
on the Agricultural branch. — or a systematic description of those Plants 
(both useful and pernicious) which more immediately interest American 
Farmers — especially those in the Middle States of this Confederacy. 
The Botany of the Arts, whenever undertaken, will afford a highly inter- 
esting theme for some future laborer in this elegant department of Nat- 
ural History. 

In compiling this Farmer's Flora, I found it somewhat difficult to 
determine, satisfactorily, the line of demarcation between the Plants 
entitled to a place in it. and those which might properly be omitted. It 
may, perhaps, be thought by some, that the list is unnecessarily large. — 
while others may be of opinion that there are species left out which 
ought to have been inserted. My aim has been, — not. certainly, to 
describe all the plants which an accomplished Agriculturist might very 
properly desire to know ; but — to include those only (whether in the 
wood-lands, the fields, or the kitchen-garden.) of which no intelligent 
Farmer would willingly be ignorant. " "When he shall have made him- 
self familiar with these, he can extend his acquaintance with the Tege- 
"iable Tribes, at pleasure, by having recourse to more general and com- 
prehensive works ; such, for example, as the Flora of 2<orth Amenco, 
by ToRREY and Gray, — or Prof. De Caxdolle's Prod ramus of a Nat- 
ural System, comprising all the known forms of vegetation upon this 
terraqueous globe. 

In my humble opinion, no Education can be deemed sufficient without 
Fome acquaintance with the rudiments, or first principles, of Botanical 
Science — some rational knowledge of the vast and maltiform creation 
around us, known as the Vegetable Kingdom. I consider such knowl- 
edge just as indispensable to a rightly instructed people, as any of the 
usual element^iry branches of school learning. By this, however, I dc 



PEEFACE TO THE FIEST EDITION. 



not mean the smattering of a few obsolete terms, unconnected with any 
available ideas — which, in too many instances, passes under the impos- 
ing name of Botany" : but I do mean, that thorough conception of 
the general nature aad relations of Plants, which may be acquired by 
the aid of such works as the Botanical Text-Book of Prof. A. Gray. 
Tn all other employments, it is very properly expected that a workman 
shall not only be expert in the manipulations of his art, but shall also 
be well acquainted with the nature of his materials : and I can perceive 
no good reason why it is not equally incumbent on a practical farmer 
to understand the true character of those plants, which it is his especial 
interest either to cultivate or to extirpate. 

If our American youths who are being educated with a view to 
Agricultural pursuits,"^ were thoroughly instructed in the admirable Text- 
Book, above referred to, — and were then required to make themselves 
botanically acquainted with that portion of the vegetable kingdom 
which annually demands their attention, on the farm, — the Profession 
would speedily assume a new and engaging aspect. The labors of the field 
would be blended with the contemplation of facts and phenomena of the 
deepest interest to inquiring minds, — and Agriculture — instead of being 
shunned, as an irksome drudgery— would be justly esteemed as one of 
the noblest employments of a free and intellectual people. 

If the present Essay may in any degree tend to promote that auspi- 
cious result, the Author will derive a sincere gratification from the 
belief, that the the time and attention devoted to its preparation have 
not been wholly misapplied. 

West Chester, Penxa., 
June, 1847. 



WEEDS. 



In popular language, any homely plant which is not noticeable for the 
beauty of its flowers, nor entitled to respect by a reputation for medic- 
inal or other useful qualities, is designated by the epithet weed. In an 
agricultural sense, the term is used with a more restricted meaning, and 
is applied to those intrusive and unwelcome individuals that will persist 
in growing where they are not wanted, — in short, the best definition that 
has yet been given of a weed is the old one, a plant out of place." 
Most of the weeds troublesome in our agriculture are immigrants, either 
from the Old "World, or the warmer portions of this continent. The num- 
ber of plants indigenous to our country, that are entitled to rank as per- 
nicious weeds, is comparatively small. As the aborigines disappeared 
with the advance of the whites, so do the native plants generally yield 
their possession as cultivation extends, and the majority of the plants to 
be met with along the lanes and streets of villages, and upon farms, are 
naturalized strangers, who appear to be quite at home, and are with 
difnculty to be persuaded or driven away. 

The labors of the agriculturist are a constant struggle ; on the one 
hand, by presenting the most favorable conditions possible, he endeavors 
to make certain plants grow and produce to their utmost capacity ; and 
on the other hand, he has to prevent the growth of certain other plants 
that are ready to avail themselves of these favorable conditions. The 
farmer is interested in two points concerning weeds : how they get into 
his grounds, and how to get them out. As cultivation is all the more 
profitably carried on if the farmer knows something of the nature and 
character of the plants he would raise, so, if he would successfully 
operate in the other direction, and stop plants from growing, he can do 
so all the better if he knows what are the peculiar habits of the in^ 
dis'iduals with which he has to contend, — and it is quite as important 



xiv 



WEEDS. 



to be familiar witli the manner of growtli, and the mode of propagation 
of a weed, as it is to be with that of an useful plant. A plant that 
spreads itself entirely by the seed must, of course, be differently treated 
from one that multiplies by the root also, whether we would propagate 
or destroy. 

A sound constitution, established by a proper regard to the conditions of 
health, is not only the best preventive of the attacks of disease, but much 
facilitates recovery, if this be contracted; in like manner thorough culture 
and good farming ensures a sort of general exemption from the pesti- 
lence of weeds, and renders easy the subjugation of those which happen 
to make their way into the grounds. In agriculture as in morals, idleness 
is the mother of yice, and if the ground be not occupied with something' 
good, there will be a plenty of the opposite character to take its place. 
Possession is a great advantage in other matters than those of the law, 
and a plant, whether useful or troublesome, when once fully established 
is not disposed to yield without an argument. " That learned and saga- 
cious observer of Nature — the late professor De Candolle — remarks, 
that ' all the plants of a country, all those of any given place, are in a 
state of war, in relation to each other. All are endowed with means, 
more or less efficacious, of reproduction and nutrition. Those which first 
establish themselves accidentally, in a given locality, have a tendency^ 
from the mere fact that they already occupy the space, to exclude other 
species from it : the largest ones smother the smallest ones ; the longest 
lived ones supersede those of shorter duration ; the most fruitful gradu- 
ally take possession of the space which would otherwise have been occu- 
pied by those which multiply more slowly.' The farmer, therefore, should 
avail himself of this principle, and aid the more valuable plants in their 
struggle to choke down or expel the worthless." (Ed. 1.) 

"Weeds are introduced upon a farm in a variety of ways. Many have 
their seeds sown with those of the crops ; this is particularly the case 
where the seeds of the weeds and of the grain are so nearly alike in size 
that their separation is difficult. Proper care in procuring and preserv. 
ing clean seed will often save much future trouble and vexation. The 
observing. farmer will notice the means which nature has provided for the 
scattering of seeds, and he will find that the most pernicious weeds seem 
to have been especially furnished with contrivances to facilitate theii 
dispersion. The Clot-bur, P.eggars Lice, and others, have barbs c< 



"U'EEDS. 



XV 



hooks by which they adhere to clothing and the coats of animals, and 
are widely distributed by this agency. All of the Thistles, and many 
others of the same family, have a tuft of fine silky hair attached to the 
seed, or more properly fruit, by which they are buoyed upon the air, and 
wafted from place to place. So numerous are the ways by which seeds 
arc dispersed, that, however careful a farmer may be upon his own prem- 
ises, a slovenly and neglectful neighbor may cause him infinite annoyance 
by furnishing his lands with an abundant supply. In some European 
countries a farmer may sue his neighbor for neglecting to destroy the 
weeds upon his lands, or may employ people to do it at the delinquent's 
expense. 

The vitality of seeds, particularly if buried in the earth below the 
reach of the influences which cause germination, in some cases endures 
through many years ; hence, an old field, after deep plowing, has often a 
fine crop of weeds from the seeds thus brought to the surface. Weeds 
that have been cut or pulled after they have flowered, should not be 
thrown into the barnyard or hog-stye, unless the farmer wishes to have 
the work to do over again with their progeny, as the seeds will be thor- 
oughly distributed in the manuring of the land. In England they dry 
the pernicious weeds and burn them, not only destroying root and branch, 
but seed also. In all weeding, it is of the greatest importance that it 
should be done before the plants have formed seed. This should be re- 
garded equally with annual and perennial weeds. The prolific character 
of some weeds is astonishing ; each head of an Ox-eye Daisy or "White- 
weed is not a simple flower, but a collection of a great many flowers, 
each of which produces a seed ; and, as a single plant bears a great 
many heads, the number of seeds that a single individual is capable of 
supplying in a season amounts to several hundreds. In weeds, evil should 
be, emphatically, nipped in the bud. In this respect, the farmer should 
act in the spirit of the Western savages who kill the women and chil- 
dren of their enemies, as a tolerably sure way of preventing the multi- 
plication of warriors. Annual weeds are much more readily kept in 
subjection than the perennial ones, which, especially those which multiply 
extensively by their underground stems or roots, often become truly formid- 
able. Here not only has the propagation by seeds to l>e prevented, but a 
subterranean and hidden enemy has to be combatted. It is very impor- 
tant that the agriculturist should understand the way in which these 



xvi 



■WEEDS. 



plants grow, that he may know how to direct his efforts to subdue them. 
A perennial weed, like the Canada Thistle or Couch Grass, is, during the 
early stage of its existence, easily destroyed ; but later in the season it 
makes strong underground seems, or roots, as they are commonly but in- 
correctly called, which ha\e great tenacity of life, and which have within 
them an accumulation of nourishment which enables them to throw up 
several successive crops of herbage ; plowing such weeds generally ag- 
gravates the trouble, for, unless every fragment be removed from the 
ground, a thing very difficult to accomplish, each piece that is left makes 
a separate plant. In the case of weeds of this description, the necessity 
of early eradicating them is apparent, for if once well established, and 
an underground provision depot formed, the farmer and the plant are 
placed in the condition of beseiging and beseiged forces — as long as the 
provisions hold out the latter can maintain its ground. It becomes a 
question of endurance, for the underground supply must be eventually 
exhausted in the attempt to produce new stems and leaves, and if the 
farmer, by persistently cutting these away, prevents any new accession 
to the stock of provision, the enemy must at length succumb. Often re- 
peated cuttings will at length exhaust the underground portion of its vi- 
tality. In some cases salt has been used with success, especially upon 
Thistles, applied immediately after mowing. The farmer will do well to 
keep in mind two rules. Do not let weeds flower, and do not let them 
breathe, for the leaves may be considered the lungs of the plant, and 
without the aid of these it cannot lorg maintain itself. 



THE STRUCTURE OF PLAXTS. 



Tms chapter has been prepared for the purpose of giving those who use 
this work, some general notions upon the structure of plants. From 
the limited space allowed, the principal facts can only be stated, and 
those very briefly. Those who desire to be more fully informed upon 
this subject, are referred to the admirable works of Prof. Gray. His 
progressive series, " How Plants Grow," Lessons in Botany," and 
" Botanical Text-Book," — the first for children, the second a compre- 
hensive popular work, and the last an extended treatise, — are all that 
can be desired in the way of popular and at the same time thoroughly 
scientific elementary works. 

1. The material world is divided into Unorganized (or Inorganic) 
substances, and Organized [or Organic) beings. The mineral substances 
of the earth and air and water belong to the first, and plants and 
animals to the second of these divisions. Unorganized substances have 
neither life nor growth, and are without parts or organs adapted to 
special offices. Organized beings have life and growth ; they start from 
a simple germ, and go through jjrogressive stages of developement : they 
are furnished with parts or organs which have particular functions to 
perform, either in promoting the growth of the individual or in per- 
petuating its kind. 

2. Organized beings are of two kinds, Vegetables and Animals. A 
vegetable or plant may be defined as a l^eing which converts the unor- 
ganized matter (contained in the air, water and the earth) into organized 
material which is either directly or indirectly the food of animals. 
Animals have not the power of appropriating unorganized substances, 
but live upon the food furnished by plants, for the reception of which, 
they are provided with an internal cavity or stomach. Plants are pro- 
ducers of food, while animals are consumers of food. 

3. The study of plants in all that relates to their growth and repro- 
duction, their resemblance to and difference from one another in the 
structure and arrangement of their parts, their distribution over the 
earth's surface, and whatever relates to the history of a plant, constitutes 
the science of Botany. The science is divided into several departments ; 
that which treats of the nature and functions of the diflerent parts or 
organs is Structural Botany — that branch of the science of which we 
wish.to give a brief outline in the following page?. 

4. All plants fall into two great series : 1st, those which have manifest 
Oowers and are reproduced by seeds, — Flowering or PlicEnogamons 
plants ; 2d, those which have no flowers and no proper seeds, but are 

1 [11 



2 



IXTRODUCTOET. 



reproduced by minute dust-like grains called spores, — Flowerless oi 
Crijptogamous plants. As cryptogamous plants do not often appear as 
weeds and as their study is rather difficult, they arc left out of con- 
sideration in the present work. 

5. Flowering plants have two kinds of organs ; those parts which are 
concerned in sustaining the life and growth of the plant, — Organs of 
Vegetation ; and those w-hich provide for its perpetuation by means of 
seed, — Organs of Reproduction. 

6 . The organs of vegetation are three, viz. : Eoot, Stem, and Leaf. 
These the plant has at a very early stage of its existence. If a young 
seedling plant, as a Radish, Bean or Pumpkin be taken from the ground 
as soon as it has " come up,"' it will be found to consist of a short stem 
with a pair of leaves at the top and a root at the bottom of it. By 
soaking the seeds until the seed-coat is softened, and then carefully 
breaking it open, the young plant will be found within, though in a 
much less developed state. The seed always contains within it the 
young plant, more or less developed, either lying straight in the seed or 
variously coiled or folded up ; this is called the Embryo. By the influ- 
ence of the warmth and moisture of the earth, the embryo bursts the 
skin of the seed and begins to grow. The sprouting of the embryo is 
called germination. The parts of the embryo are ; 1st, the little stem, 
called the Radicle ; and 2d, tlie leaves which in the Radish, Bean, &c., first 
appear above ground and are usually called Seed-leaves, these are the 
Cotyledons ; between them there is a little bud (which is not always to 
be seen in the embryo, but appears soon after it begins to grow), the 
Plumule. In germination the radicle elongates, the lower end — w^hat- 
ever the position the seed may be placed in — pushes itself downward 
into the eartli, and its upper end bearing the seed-leaves is raised to the 
light and air. That portion of the radicle which goes downward forms 
the Root or Descending Axis, that w^hich rises above the surface of the 
earth is the Stem or Ascending Axis. 

In the instances quoted as illustrations (Radish, Bean and Pumpkin), 
the embryo is large and fills the whole seed ; the seed-leaves, in the Bean 
especially, are thickened and rounded from being filled with a supply of 
food w^hich nourishes the young plant until it can form roots and draw 
sustenance from the soil. In many seeds, as the Pea, Acorn, &c., the 
cotyledons are very much distended and do not rise to the surface, but 
only open far enough to allow the plumule to protrude. 

7. In many seeds the embryo, instead of containing the food for its 
early growth within its cotyledons, has a more or less abundant supply 
surrounding it, called Albumen. The embryo is placed sometimes in the 
centre of the albumen — or at one side, or sometimes coiled in a more or 
less complete ring around it. Seeds which contain albumen are said to 
be albuminous, those having none, exalbuminous. The albumen may be 
large in proportion to the embryo, or very sparing ; its texture varies, 
hcAug farinaceous or mealy (as in Buckwheat), horny or corneous (like 
that of Coffee), oily (as in the Poppy), or mucilaginous. 

8 In the examples given, the embryo has in each case two cotyledons ; 



THE STEUCTUEE OF PLA.XTS. 



3 



plants Laving embryos of this kind are termed Dicctylcdonous (i. e. 
having two cotyledons or seed-leaves). There are many plants in which 
the embryo has but one cotyledon ; this is the case with Wheat, Indian 
Corn, the Onion, Lily, &c. ; such plants are Monocotyledonous (i. e. 
having one cotyledon). This is an important distinction, and divides 
all our flowering plants into two great classes — Dicotyledonous and 
Monocotyledonous plants — which are further distinguished by impor- 
tant differences in their stem, leaves, and flowers. In the Fine Family, 
the embryo has several cotyledons in a whorl — Poly cot yledonoits, 
(Fig. 238). 

9. The EooT or Descending Axis, is that portion of the radicle which 
grows downwards, fixing the plant to the soil ; its ofBce is to absorb 
nourishment from the earth, and to this end it is provided with an 
extended surface by being generally subdivided into branches and sup- 
plied with multitudes of delicate fibres or root-hairs. The root of a 
plant, which springs from the seed, makes its growth and produces 
flowers and seed all in one year, is called annual. When the plant re- 
quires two years to complete its career, it is biennial ; and when it lives 
through a number of years, it is perennial. 

10. The various forms which roots present, are produced either by the 
branching of the principal root, or by the enlargement of it and that of its 
branches. Where the main root continues distinct and unbranching, or 
sends off' only occasional branches, a tap-root is formed ; ordinarily, how- 
ever, the main root is lost in its numerous branches, or many roots 
start from the lower end of the radicle, and we have a cluster of roots. 
Annual roots are very much divided into numerous thread-like branches; 
such are termed fibrous roots. In biennial plants, the first year is occu- 
pied in storing up nourishment to be expended in producing flowers and 
seed in the following year ; this is frequently deposited in the root, hence 
the roots of biennials are usually thick and fleshy. If such roots taper 
regularly downwards (as in the Farsnip and Carrot), they are conical. 
If they taper both upwards and downwards (the Long Ptadish, for 
example), we have a spindle-shaped or fusiform root. When much en- 
larged laterally, so as to be broader than long, the root is turnip-shaped 
or naptform. In these forms the branches are small and hair-like. In 
some perennial roots, those where the stem dies down annually, there is 
often an accumulation of nourishment and the roots become tuberous, as 
in the Sweet Potato. 

^ 11. Under favorable circumstances, roots may spring from any por- 
tion of the stem and branches. W^hen a branch lies along the earth, or 
■when a cutting is placed in the soil, roots are given out ; these are 
termed secondary roots. Some stems throw out roots even at a great 
distance from the earth (aerial roots), which serve in some cases only as 
supports to the stems of climbing plants, adhering to rocks, the trunks 
of trees and other objects, as in the Ivy and Poison Oak, — or they at 
length reach the earth and help sustain the plant, as in the Indian Corn, 
which often throws out roots from the lower part of the steni, at some 
distance from the surface of the earth. In Para'^.tes (those x:)lants which 



i 



IXTEODUCTORT. 



feed upon tlie juices of other plants), the roots adhere to or /penetrate 
the plants upon which they feed, either above-ground, as the JSIistletoe 
and Dodder, or they attach themselves to their roots beneath the surface, 
as in the various root-parasites. Roots branch without any regular order, 
and very seldom produce buds, in which they differ from^he 

12. Stem or Ascendixg Axis. As the elongation of the radicle 
lifts the cotyledons of the bean, &c., above the surface of the earth, S(* 
in turn the plumule or little bud is lifted up ; its leaves, or leaf, as the 
case may be, expand, another bud is produced, aad thus the process goes 
on, and the plant increases in length by the developement of a succes- 
sion of leaves separated by a greater or less length of stem. The point 
on the stem from which a leaf, or leaves, arise is term.ed a JVotZe (or knot) 
and the spaces between the nodes are Internodes (or joints). A stem is 
made up of leaf-bearing internodes and terminated by a bud, which is a 
collection of very short internodes with their undeveloped leaves. The 
nature of the bud is seen in a marked manner in some trees in which 
the whole of the next season's growth may be seen in miniature, just as 
the fii'st internode of the plant is found in the seed. 

13. A stem which continues to develope from the apex only, remains 
simple ; but commonly the stem branches. Branches proceed from buds 
which with few exceptions, appear on the stem in the angle formed by 
its union with the leaf (the axil). The position of the branches is deter- 
mined by that of the leaves, and did all the buds develope, the form of 
the plant v/ould be regular. Sometimes buds appear out of their usual 
place, (the axils of the leaves) and as roots may develope from any part 
of the stem, so under some circumstances may buds. Such buds are 
termed adventitious ; they may even appear on the root, which does not 
ordinarily produce buds. Where more than one bud appears in an axil, 
the additional ones are called accessory ; and where, as is sometimes the 
case, buds appear above the axil, they are extra-axillary. When the 
stem continues to elongate by the terminal bud and the main trunk is 
kept distinct, as in the Fir Trees, the stem is excurrent ; but it is usual- 
ly lost in the branches, when it is deliquescent. 

14. If a stem of a plant dies down at the end of the season, it is an 
Herb. Herbs, according to the duration of their roots, may be annual, 
biennial or perennial (9j ; where the stem becomes woody it is, according 
to its size, a Shrub or Tree. Under-s/irubs are woody plants with stems 
rising but little above the surface of the ground. If the stem is only 
woody near the base it is suffruticose; or when but little woody, suffrutes- 
cent. Shrubs and Trees differ only in size ; those under 15 or 20 feet 
high and branching fi-om near the ground are called shrubs. The 
jointed stem of grasses is called a Culm. 

15. The various modifications of the stem and branches have received 
distinguishing names, of which the most used are given here. When the 
stem is too weak to stand erect but bends over, it is declined; if it partly 
lies on the ground, it is decumbent ; or if it lies entirely upon the ground, 
prostrate or procumbent. If it clings to objects by means cf tendrils 
(16), like the Grape vine, or by aerial roots (11), like the Ivy, it Li 



THE 3TEUCTUEE OF PLA^^TS. 



5 



dimhing or scandent. If is winds around other objects like IJbe Bean 
and Hop, it is voluble or twining. 

16. Branches which arise from the main stem, below the surface of 
the earth, are called suckers. 

If a branch bends over so as to reach the ground and there takes root, 
a stolon is formed, which sends up brandies of its own, and by the di- 
vision or the dying- away of the connecting portion, becomes an ind^ 
pendent plant. Plants multiplying in this way are stolon if erous. A long 
slender thread-like branch which strikes root at its extremity, as in the 
strawberry, is called a runner. 

Spines or thorns are hardened sharp-pointed branches ; they may fre- 
quently be found bearing leaves, especially in their young state, which 
shows their true character. Sometimes the thorns are branched, as 
those of the Honey Locust. 

A tendril is a weak, leafless branch, capable of coiling around objects 
to support climbing plants (Fig. 95). Some tendrils, however, belong 
to the leaf (26). 

17. Besides the aerial form of the stem and branches, there are sev- 
eral subterranean ones which are often mistaken for roots, but are to be 
distinguished from them by having nodes, producing regular buds, and 
often having rudiments of leaves (11). The Root-stock or Rhizoma is an 
under-ground stem, advancing by its terminal bud and throwing off 
roots from each node or from the whole surface ; the Couch- or Quitch- 
grass furnishes a good illustration of one form of rhizoma ; it often be- 
comes fleshy, as in the Sweet Flag and Bloodroot. 

18. Where an underground stem thickens at the apex, a Tuber is 
formed, as is the case in the Jerusalem Artichoke and Potato. Though 
popularly considered as a root, the potato is a short thick under-ground 
stem, having scars which are the rudiments or representatives of leaves, 
and the eyes " are buds in their axils. A Corm or solid bulb is a more 
or less globular subterranean stem, as that of the Indian Turnip. A 
bulb is a very much shortened stem, covered with scales, which are the 
thickened bases of former leaves. The White Lily has the scales sepa- 
rate, and affords an example of the Scaly bulb, while in the Onion the 
scales surround one another and form a Tunicated or Coated bulb. The 
stem is here often reduced to a mere plate, from the lower surface of 
which proceed the roots, and from the upper the scales. Bulblets are 
smaU bulbs produced above ground ; the Spotted Lily of the gardens 
bears these in the axils of the leaves, and in the Wild Leek, or Garlic, 
they appear in the place of flowers. 

19. The internal structure of the stem presents two marked varieties. 
In dicotyledonous plants, the woody portion occupies a ring between the 
pith and bark, and in stsms of this kind which last from year to year, 
they increase by an annual deposition of wood outside of that of the 
previous year ; such plants are termed Exogenous or Exogens, (meaning 
outside growers) . The stem of a monocotyledonous plant presents no 
such distinction into pith, wood and bark, but the wood is in threads or 
fibres, distributed irregularly throughout the pith, as is seen in cutting 



6 



IXTEODUCTORY. 



across a stalk of Indian Corn ; these steins are called Endogenous or 
Emlogens, (inside grow^^rs). The terms Dicotyledonous and Exogenous 
are used synonymously, as are Monocotyledonous and Endogenous. 

20. The Leaf. It is in the leaf that the important work of trans- 
forming the crude sap, which is taken up by tlie roots, into organized 
material fit to enter into the growth of the plant, is performed. In this 
jDrocess the agency of sunlight is required and a free exposure to the air, 
hence the leaves are so made and so disposed upon the stem as to present 
the greatest possible surface to these influences. A leaf, haying all its 
parts, consists of an expanded portion, (the Blade, Lamina, or Limb.) a 
stalk by which it is attached to the stem, (the Petiole or Leaf-stalk.) and 
a pair of appendages at the base of the leaf-stalk, called Stipules. The 
petiole and stipules may one or both be absent, the essential portion 
being the blade. Leaves having a petiole are said to be petioled or pe- 
tiolate ; without a petiole they are sessile. "Where the blade joins the 
petiole, or, if this be absent, the stem, is its base ; the opposite ends are 
the apex, and the sides are the margins. 

21. The blade of the leaf consists of a green pulpy substance through 
which runs a framework of fibres to give it strength ; these, as they are 
large or small, are called Ribs or Veins, and the mode in which they are 
distributed is termed venation. There are two principal kinds of vena- 
tion : 1st, where the veins run mostly parallel, and do not branch nor 
form a network ; these are parallel-veined (sometimes called nerved) 
leaves, and are mostly to be found in endogenous plants (19) ; 2d, where 
the veins form a sort of network through the pulpy portion ; the leaf is 
then said to be netted- or reticulately-veined. This kind of veining has 
two forms : 1st, where a strong rib, (the midrib), runs from the base to 
the apex of the leaf, from which lateral veins branch off like the plame 
upon a feather ; this is called feather-veined, or penni-nerved (Fig. 66) ; 
2d, where several strong ribs start from the base and spread like rays 
from the centre ; here we have a radiately-veined leaf (Fig. 68) ; these, 
from their resemblance to a web-foot, are also called paJmately-veined. 

22. Feather- veined leaves are usually longer than broad, while in the 
radiately-veined the form approaches the circular. The general outline 
of leaves, as well as that of other flat portions of plants, is described by 
a variety of terms. A very narrow leaf with two parallel margins is 
linear, as the leaves of most grasses (Fig. 260) ; when the blade tapers 
upwards or to each end, and is several times longer than broad, it is lan- 
ceolate (Fig. 179) : when broader in proportion, o6/o)2g ; if both ends are 
rounded and of equal width, elliptical ; when having the form of a hen's 
egg cut lengthwise, with the broad end down, it is ovate ; when nearly 
round, orbicular (Fig. 44). If the leaf tapers towards the base instead 
of towards the apex, it is oblanceolate and obovate, the reverse of lanceo- 
late and ovate. If rounded above and long and narrow below, it is 
spatulate, and cuneate when shaped like a wedge. 

23. "When the two sides of the base are prolonged and rounded, the 
leaf is said to be cordate or heart-shaped (Fig. 171) ; if such a leaf be 
much broader than long, it is hidney-shnped or reniform. If the pro- 



THE STEUCTUEE OF PLANTS. 



7 



longed portions oi lobes, instead of being round, are sharp and pointing 
downwards, the leaf is arrow-shaped or sagittate (Fig. 182 and 243) ; or 
if the lobes, instead of pointing downwards, are turned outwards, it is 
halhert-shaped or hastate (Fig. 181) : if the lobes are rounded, it is auricu- 
late or eared. "When the lobes of a kidney-shaped leaf unite, and the 
petiole appears to be fixed in its centre, it is called peltate or shield- 
shaped. 

24. Various terms are used to describe the apex or termination of 
leaves and similar bodies, viz. : acute, when terminating in a sharp angle 
without much tapering ; acuminate or pointed, if the apex is narrowed 
into a point ; mucronate, if furnished with a small abrupt point ; obtuse, 
if ending in a rounded blunt point ; truncate, when it appears as if cut 
off abruptly ; rctuse, if slightly indented at the apex ; notched or emargi- 
nate, when 'decidedly indented ; and ohcordate, when so much so as to be 
reverse heart-shaped. 

25. The margin of the leaf, when without any notches or indentations 
of any kind, is entire ; when with sharp teeth pointing forwards, like the 
teeth of a saw, it is serrate. If the teeth point outwards instead of to- 
wards the apex, it is said to be dentate or toothed; if the teeth are 
rounded, it is crenate or scalloped. If these indentations of the margin are 
small in degree, then the diminutives, serrulate, denticulate and crenulate, 
are employed. 

A margin with a wavy outline is called repand, or if the indentations 
are deeper, shallow and rounded, sinuate. When the teeth are irregular 
and sharp, the leaf is said to be incised or cut. A lobed leaf has the mar- 
gin deeply cut with a definite number of divisions ; if the divisions reach 
nearly to the middle, it is cleft ; if nearly to the midrib, parted ; or it 
quite to the midrib or base, divided. The number of these divisions is 
expressed by numerals ; thus we say 2-lobed, 3-cleft, A-parted, &c. The 
division of the margin follows the distribution of the veins, and a piu- 
nately-veined leaf will he pinnatehj-cleft, pinnately-parted, &c., and a pal- 
mately-veined one will be palmately-lobed, palmately-divided, &c. 

26. Leaves, as to the division of their margins, present every variety 
from entire to so deeply cut that the division reaches the midrib. The 
parts of a divided or parted leaf are called Segments or Lobes. However 
much it may be divided, the leaf is considered as simple unless the parts 
are jointed together, or articulated, in which case it becomes compound. 
The parts of a compound leaf are called Leaflets, and the same terms are 
used for them that are employed in describing leaves. Compound leaves, 
like divided ones, present two principal forms : when a pinnately-veined 
leaf becomes compound, it forms a pinnate leaf (Fig. 78), the leaflets 
being arranged on the midrib which becomes the Common Petiole or 
Rachis ; so a palmately or radiately-veined leaf becomes palmately com- 
pound or digitate, bearing the leaflets at the top of a common petiole 
(Fig. 64) . When the leaflets of a pinnate leaf are in even pairs, the 
leaf is equally- or abruptly-pinnate ; odd-pinnate, if the common petiole 
terminates with a leaflet (Fig. 53). Sometimes the common petiole is 
prolonged into a Tendril (Fig. 71), and the leaf aids in supporting the 



8 



INTEODUCTOEY. 



plant. When the leaflets themselves have a stalk (Peticlule) they ara 
petiolulate. Often the leaflets of a pinnate leaf themselves become com- 
pound, when we have a doubl y or twice-pinnate leaf ; this division may 
l3e continued to produce thrice-pinnate, &c. 

The number of leaflets in a compound leaf is expressed by pinnately 
3-folioIate, 5-folioIate, &c., ov palmately o-foUolate, 5-foliolate, &c. 

Yery much divided leaves, especially if irregularly so, are called de^ 
compound. 

27. The point of attachment of the leaf to the stem is its insertion. 
Those leaves which are inserted at or beneath the surface of the ground, 
are called Radical- or Root-leaves ; those along the ascending stem, can- 
line ; and those near the flower, Floral-leaves or Bracts. 

The insertion of the leaf is in three principal ways : when two arise 
from each node or joint, they are opposite (Fig. 34) ; when there are 3 
or more at each joint, they are wJiorled or verticillate (Fig. 114) ; and 
alternate, when only one is produced at each node (Fig. 24). Alternate 
leaves present a great variety in their arrangement. When one is pro- 
duced above another on exactly opposite sides of the stem, they are 2- 
ranked. When they are so placed that each is a the circumference of 
the stem from the other, we have the 3-ranked order, and so on for the 
5-ranked and others. The subject of the arrangement of leaves, or Phyl- 
lotaxy, as it is called, is one which presents much interest to the curious, 
and will be found clearly explained in Gray's Botanical Text Book. 

28. When the bases of two opposite leaves grow together, appearing 
as if the stem passed through them, they are connate-perfoliate ; when a 
single leaf presents this appearance by the union of the lobes of its base 
beyond the stem, it is called perfoliate. 

Pairs of opposite leaves crossing each other at right-angles are decus- 
sate. 

Where several leaves are crowded together, so as to spring apparently 
from the same point, they are clustered ov fascicled. 

Leaves and other parts which fall soon after expanding, are fugacious 
or caducous ; deciduous, when they fall at the close of the season ; per- 
sistent, when they last the whole year or longer. 

29. The manner in which leaves are disposed in the bud is their verna- 
tion or prefoliation. When each leaf is infolded lengthwise, it is condu^ 
plicate ; plicate, when several times folded or plaited ; involute, when 
the margins are rolled in ; revolute, when rolled backwards towards tha 
midrib ; convolute, when rolled up from one edge ; and circinate, when 
spirally rolled from the apex downwards. 

30. Stipules (20) are not always present. In the Magnolia Family 
their office seems to be to protect the bud, and they fall away early ; iu 
other cases they remain with the leaves. When the leaflets of a coir- 
pound leaf have stipular appendages, they are said to be stipellate. It 
the stipules adhere by one edge to the petiole, they are adnate, as in tha 
Clover (Fig. 74), and if they unite around the stem, they form a sheath 
or Ochrea, as is seen in Polygonums (Fig. 179). 

31. Organs of Eeproductiox consist of the flower, fruit and seed 



THE STEUCTUEE OF PLANTS. 



9 



Flowers are developed from buds occupying the same position as those 
which produce branches, and the botanist regards the flower as a short 
branch with its leaves in a peculiar state of developement, the different 
parts of the flower answering to leaves. The manner in which flowers 
are arranged upon the stem is termed infiorescence. 

32. The simplest form is when the stem is terminated by a flower-bud, 
as in the Tulip ; as the stem grows no longer in this direction, this is 
called deiermiimte inflorescence, but it is generally the case that flowers 
are thrown out from the axils of the leaves, while the stem keeps on 
growing. This form, of which there are several modifications, is inde- 
terminate. If the flowers arise from the axils of the leaves of the stem 
which remain like those of the rest of the plant, the inflorescence is axillary 
(Fig. 184) ; but more commonly, when flowers are produced, the leaves 
become smaller, and the joints of the stem shorter, and some kind of a 
flower cluster is formed. In this case the reduced or transformed leaves 
are called Bracts, and the flower cluster receives various names according 
to the form it assumes. 

33. When flowers arise each from the axil of a bract upon a short 
pedicel of its own, a Raceme is formed ; the main stem or axis is its 
Rachis or Common Peduncle ; and the stalk of each flower, its Pedicel. 
Here the lower flowers open first. If the flowers are sessile instead of 
being raised upon pedicels, a Spike is produced. If the lower pedicels 
of a short raceme are elongated so that all the flowers are raised up to 
the same level, it forms a Corymb ; and if the internodes of the common 
peduncle are at the same time shortened so that the pedicels all appa- 
rently start from the same point, an Umbel (Fig. 108,) is the result, the 
pedicels of which are called Rays, and the collected bracts at their base 
form an Involucre. It is usually the case that the umbel becomes com- 
pound and the rays themselves bear small umbels or Umbellets ; if these 
have any involucres they are called Involucels. A Head is where the 
flowers are closely crowded together as in the Clover (Fig. 74). In the 
Composite Family, of which the common Sunflower is an example, the 
apex of the stem is expanded to form a Receptacle, upon which the sepa- 
rate flowers or Florets are placed ; here the bracts form an involucre 
around the head and sometimes appear upon the receptacle as Chaff. A 
fleshy spike like that of the Indian Turnip and Skunk Cabbage is called 
a Spadix, and the hood-like involucre which sometimes surrounds it, a 
Spathe. A scaly spike, like those of the willow, is called an Ament or 
Catkin. 

If the pedicels of a raceme are branched a Panicle is produced. 

In the determinate form of inflorescence, the flowering is often con- 
ticuod by the production of flowering branches from the axils of the 
le^'-ves or bracts below the terminal flower ; these branches may throw 
out others, and thus a Cyme is produced. In this case the central or 
uppermost flower is oldest and it is thus distinguished from forms of in- 
determinate inflorescence. A flower-stalk which arisep from below or 
near the surface of the ground is called a Scape. 

34. The Flower has two kinds of organs ; the flower-leaves or Floral 

1^ 



10 



IXlTlODUCTOIiY 



Envelopes, which are usually in two series ; the cuter of usually green 
leaves, the Calyx ov Flower-cup ; and an inner and more delicate por- 
tion, the Corolla ; and the Essential Organs, the parts necessary to the 
production of seed, the Stamens and Pistils, which are also in two series. 
The portion of the stem to which these are attached is the Receptacle. 
These parts are arranged on the receptacle in a regular ascending order: 
first, the calyx ; then the corolla ; within and above this, the stamens ; 
and in the centre of the flower, the pistils. (Fig, 4.) 

35. The calyx is generally green and leaf-like ; the pieces of which it 
is composed are called Sepals. 

The corolla is of a more delicate texture than the calyx and of some 
other color than green ; its parts are called Petals. The broad expanded 
portion of the petal answering to the blade of the leaf, is its Limb, and 
the narrowed base, corresponding to the petiole, is, when present, its Claw. 

36. The stamens which are to be found next within the petals have 
also two parts; a rounded or lobed body or case called the Anther ; 
and the usually slender stalk which supports it, the Filament. Although 
the stamen is so unlike a leaf, the botanist regards it as representing in 
its anther, the blade of a leaf with its margins infolded to form a hollow 
bag, and in its filament, the leaf-stalk. This would perhaps be difiicult 
to comprehend if there were not some plants which show a regular gra- 
dation from green calyx leaves to perfect anthers. In half double roses 
we can often cee bodies that are half petals and half anthers, showing 
that they are but modifications of the same fundamental organ. As the 
blade is the essential part of the leaf so is the anther that of the stamen, 
and the filament may be wanting, when the anther is sessile. The anther 
produces a powder, usually of a yellow color, which is discharged ordinarily 
by slits in its walls or sometimes by pores at the apex (Fig. 144) or by 
valves or trap doors (Fig. 16). The office of this powder, called Pollen, 
is to fertilize the ovary. Anthers are usually 2-celled, sometimes 4-celled, 
or one-celled by the confluence or running together of the cells, or by the 
abortion or disappearance of one of them. 

If the anther rests directly upon the apex of the filament it is inuntc ; 
if the whole length of one face is applied to the filament, it is aclnate , 
when it looks towards the centre of the flower, it is intforse ; when look- 
ing outwards, cxtrorse ; it is called versatile when hung to the apex of 
the filament in such a way as to swing loosely in any direction. 

When the filament is prolonged between the anther-cells it is termed 
the Connective. 

The number of stamens is expressed by monindroiis, diandrou^, trian- 
drous, &c,, for a flower with 1-2 and 3 stamens, (fee. ; polyandrous for 
many stamens : words obtained by putting the names of the classes of 
Linnaeus, monandria, diandria, &c., founded on the number of stamens, 
into the adjective form. 

37. The Pistil or pistils occupy the centre of the flower ; they are 
the parts which produce seeds. The pistil has three parts ; the hollow 
portion below, the ovary ; a more or less prolonged stalk above this, the 
t':yle, which has a variously shaped termination, the stigma. The ovary 



THE STKL'CTUEE OF PLANTS. 



11 



and stigma being tlie essential portions, the style may be, and frequently 
is, wanting, when the stigma is sessile. The ovary contains within it 
the rudiments of seeds or Oyw/e?, which are, after they have received the 
fertilizing influence of the pollen which is communicated through the 
stigma, developed into seeds. The number of pistils in a flower is ex- 
pressed by prefixing the greek numerals to gynous ; a monogynoiis one 
having one pistil ; a digynous one having two pistils, &c. For farther 
in relation to the structure of the pistil, see 45. 

38. The stamens and pistils being the essential parts of the flower, 
one or both series of the floral envelopes may be wanting : when one of 
the series is absent, it is the corolla, and the flower is then apetalous 
(without petals) ; or when both are absent, the flower is naked. 

A complete flower has all four series of organs present : if either of 
these is lacking it is then incomplete. An incomplete flower may pro- 
duce seeds, having both stamens and pistils, and as long as these are 
both present, the flower is perfect. If either of these is absent, the flower 
is imperfect. These organs are frequently produced in separate flowers 
(Figs. 69 and 70) : when the staminate and pistillate flowers are both 
borne on the same plant, they are said to be monacious (i. e. in one 
household) ; or if produced on different plants, dioecious (in two house- 
holds). When some of the flowers are perfect and the others separated, 
they are polygamous. Flowers having the difiereut series of organs with 
the same number of parts in each, aYe symmetrical ; those having the 
parts in each series of the same shape, are regular ; or of different shapes, 
irregular (Fig. 13). 

39. The infinite variety of forms which flowers present is produced by 
modifications in these four series of parts. Some parts of a set may be 
Wanting or much changed from the usual form, or the number of parts 
may be multiplied- The different parts of a set may unite and form one 
piece, or the structure may be st 11 farther varied by the cohering or 
growing together of the parts of two or more adjoining series. 

It is very common to find the sepals of a calyx or the petals of 
a corolla more or less joined by their contiguous edges so as to form a 
tube. When the sepals are distinct, the calyx is polysepaloas ; and 
where united, monosepalous. Where the union is only partial and the 
upper portions of the sepals free, it is sometimes convenient to say that 
it is cleft or parted as the case may be. 

If the corolla has distinct petals, it i: polypetalous ; when these are 
more or less joined, monopetalous or gamopetcdous. In a monopetalous 
corolla the parts are not usually united for their whole length : — the 
free or expanded portion is the Limb and the narrower portion the Tube. 
Among the forms of monopetalous corollas may be mentioned the follow- 
ing : the funnel-shaped or mfundibuliforrn, when the tube is narrower 
below but spreads at summit (Fig. 167) ; the bell-shaped or campanu- 
late, with a rounded base and open or spreading border ; tubidar, 
when elongated and more or less cylindrical throughout (Fig. 115) ; 
salver-shaped, when the tube is very narrow and bears a broad spreading 
limb ; and wheel-shaped or rotate, with a broad limb and scarcely any 



12 



INTRODUCTORY. 



tube (Fig. 161). When the petals are irregularly united, a 2-l\pped 
or lo.hiate corolla is produced (Fig. 152). 

40. The stamens and pistils are also frequently united. When sta- 
mens unite by their filaments so as to form a tube, they axe monad elphous, 
(i.e. forming one brotherhood,) as in the Mallow Family (Fig. 45) ; 
or when, as in the Pulse Family (Fig. 73), they are in two sets, they 
are diadeljphous, (i. e. in two brotherhoods). The union into three or many 
parcels is expressed by the terms triadelphous and polyadelphous. In the 
large Composite Family, the union takes place by the anthers, when 
they are syngenesiom. 

41. The pistils are oftener united than otherwise, so that what ap- 
pears to be a simple pistil is frequently made up of several united ones. 
The union may take plac^ by the ovaries only, the styles remaining 
wholly or partly free, or it may be so complete that the real nature of 
the pistil can only be discovered by cutting it across, through the united 
ovaries, which will generally present as many cells or cavities as there 
are simple pistils that go to make up the compound one. 

42. The union or consolidation of the parts of different series fre- 
quently occurs, and this often renders the structure of the flower at first 
sight rather obscure. When the calyx, corolla and stamens are all free 
from each other and are evidently inserted below the pistils, they are 
hypogynous (i. e. under the pistil), as in Fig. 4. When calyx, corolla 
and stamens cohere together, but are still free from the pistil, so that the 
latter two appear to be inserted on the former, they are perigynous, (i. e., 
around the pistil.) as in the Peach and Cherry (Fig. 80). The union 
often involves the ovary ; in this case, the stamens and corolla appear to 
be on the calyx, it is still perigynous ; but the union is sometimes so 
complete that the parts appear to be inserted directly upon the ovary, 
when they are said to be epigynous ; (i.e., upon the ovary). These 
terms are not so much used as formerly, as the condition of the parts is 
better expressed by saying, calyx half adherent or entirely adherent to 
the ovary, as the case may be. 

43. The symmetry of the flower (Fig. 38) is broken up either by the 
suppression or nondevelopment of some parts of a set or by the multi- 
plication of the parts : but as one or more series usually retains the nor- 
mal number, there is generally but little difficulty in making out the nu- 
merical plan upon which the flower is constructed. The number of 
parts in a whole flower or in a set is expressed by the following terms : 
binary, if in twos ; ternary, in threes ; quarternary, in fours ; quinary, 
in fives. Tetramerous, peniamerous, &c,, (written 4-merous, 5-merous, 
&c.) are used to describe flowers with their parts in fours, fives, &c. 

44. Ordinarily the parts of a symmetrical flower alternate ; that is, 
the petals are placed over the interval between the sepals, the stamens 
over the interval between the petals and consequently opposite the sepals, 
and so on. This is to be considered the usual position, unless otherwise 
stated, in the description of the plant. Exceptions, however, occur, as 
in the Buckthorn and Barberry, where the stamens are placed directly 
in front of the petals. 



THE STKUCTUKE OF PLANTS. 



13 



Tiie terms upper and lower, as applied to the parts of the flower, refer 
to their position in relation to the main stem or axis. The petal or 
sepal of an axillary flower, which lies next to the bract or farthest out- 
ward from the stem, is lower or anterior ; the one on the opposite side 
and nearest the stem is upper or superior ; and those placed right and 
lett of these are lateral. 

45. The Fistil in its simplest form, a single pistil, is regarded as a 
leaf with its margins folded together so as to form a closed bag or hol- 
low portion, the ovary ; its prolonged apex is the style, and the upper 
end of this or some portion of its margin, the stigma. A simple pistil, 
composed of a single leaf, whether separate or forming a part of a com- 
pound pistil, is called a Carpel; that portion where the margins of the 
leaves join, is the Ventral Suture ; and the portion opposite to this cor- 
responding to the midrib of the leaf, the Dorsal Suture. The Ovules 
(37) are placed at the ventral suture where the margins of the 
carpellary leaf are infolded and project more or less into the cavity, 
forming what is called the Placenta, to which the ovules are attached. 

46. When two or more carpels unite, a Compound Pistil is formed ; 
this will have as many cells or cavities as there are simple pistils or 
carpels combined ; the placenta will be in the centre and the partitions or 
Dissepiments which separate the cells, being formed by the union of the 
contiguous sides of two carpels, Avill be double in their nature, although 
this may not be manifest (Fig. 33 represents a compound pistil of 3 
carpels, cut across). Sometimes a compound pistil is but one-celled ; 
either from the early disappearance of the partitions, when the placen- 
tae will be left free in the centre of the ovary ; or the ovary may be 
formed by the union of the contiguous edges of several carpellary leaves, 
without their folding together, — the placenta in this case consist of the 
margins of two difierent leaves and may not project into the cavity of 
the ovary — such placenta are parietal, (i. e., on the walls). The num- 
ber of carpels of which a compound ovary is composed, is frequently in- 
dicated by the number of styles or stigmas. An ovary of two carpels is 
dicarpellary ; one of three, tricarpellary, &c. 

47. The ovules are the little rudimentary bodies which are to become 
seeds : our limits do not permit us to describe their structure or to say 
much alDOut them. After they have received the fertilizing influence of 
the pollen, communicated through the stigma, an embryo is developed 
within them as they mature, and a seed is formed. Each ovule is placed 
en a little stalk, the Funiculus. Yv'hen the ovule is straight it is called 
orthotropous ; when curved or bent upon itself, campy' otropous ; and if 
entirely inverted on its stalk so that its apex points to the placenta, 
anatropous. 

48. Not oniy does the ovule enlarge and undergo a great change, in 
forming the seed, but the ovary also enlarges and is variously trans- 
formed and becomes the fruit. The Fruit is the ripened ovary, (called 
Pericarp or Seed-vesse' ,) its contents and sometimes the adhering adjacent 
part^, as the calyx. In the Checkerberry (Fig. 147) and in the Quince, 
\t is the enlarged and ^eshy calyx which is the eatable portion of ths 



14 



i:sTEODUCTOEY. 



fruit, while in tlie Strawberry, it is tlie large and pulpy receptacle 
which is eaten. 

49. In the process of maturing, the walls of the ovary assume a va- 
riety of texture. If they become soft and pulpy a Berry is formed, or 
if the outer portion only becomes juicy and soft while the inner part be- 
comes hard and bony, a stone-fruit or Drupe is produced (Fig. 81). 
When the walls become thick or papery, we nave some form of a Pod, 
or if bony, a Nu.t. The internal structure of the fruit is often different 
from that of the ovary ; a several-celled ovary frequently producing a 
one-celled fruit, the other cells, and often all the ovules but one, being 
obliterated. It sometimes happens that more cells are present in the 
fruit than were contained in the ovary ; this results from the formation 
of false partitions. 

60. A pod formed of a single carpel, opening at maturity by its inner 
or ventral suture, is a Follicle (Fig. 7) ; if it open at both sutures and 
splits into two valves or pieces, it is called a Legume, of which the Pea 
and Bean are familiar examples. A pod formed by a compound ovary 
is termed a Capsule ; — if this opens by regular valves it is dehiscent, 
otherwise indehiscent. Dehiscence may take place either by siolitting 
through the partitions, when it is septicidal or through the back of each 
carpel ; the latter m-ode is called loculicidal. That form of pod which is 
peculiar to the Mustard Family is called a Silique (Fig. 23) ; this is 
composed of two carpels, the two valves at maturity falling away from 
the two parietal placentas which remain as a frame-work or Rcplum, — 
in this the pod is two-celled by the stretching of a delicate false partition 
between the two placentas, A short pod of this kind is called a Sdicle 
or Pouch (Fig. 27). 

Some capsules open by a transverse line, the top coming off as a lid ; 
such a pod is called a Pijxis and this kind of dehiscence, circumsissile. 
(Fig. 42). 

51. A berry is a fruit, which like the grapC; is pulpy throughout ; if 
the rind becomes hardened while the interior remaius soft, a Gourd-fruit 
or Pepo is formed. A Pome, as the Apple and Pear, is composed of 
the fleshy aud enlarged calyx-tube ; the carpels being the thin plates 
which surround the'seeds in its centre (Fig. 90). Fleshy and pulpy 
fruits are of course indehiscent. An Akene or Achenium is a small dry 
one-seeded fruit, often popularly called seed, as in the Crowfoot (Fig. 
6) and in the Composite Family (Fig. 126 & 140). A Grain or Caryopsis 
is like an akene but with the pericarp closely adherent to the whole 
surface of the seed. An Utricle is an akene with very thin walls. A 
Key or Samara is a kind of akene with a wing, as in the Ash or Maple 
(Fig. 68) ; in the latter case two are united. Multiple fruds result 
from several flowers closely crowded together, as in the Mulberry. A 
Cone or Strobile is a scaly-inbricated multiple fruit. 

52. The seed has already been described as containing an embryo 
with or without albumen ; it has two coats, the inner of which is very 
thin and delicate and not always to be made out, — the outer one, the 
Testa, is much thicker and often even hard and bony, and is variously 



THE STEL'CTUKE OF PLANTS. 



15 



marked. Sometimes it is expanded into a wing, and at others, as in the 
Milkweed, furnished with a tuft of hairs which serve to waft it from 
place to place. The mark left by the separation of the seed-stalk or 
funiculus is called the Hilum, which is conspicuous in the Bean and 
Horse-chestnut. 

53. Syste^hatic Botany is that branch of the science which groups 
together plants according to their resemblances in structure. Individual 
plants that are so much like each other that they may be conceived to 
have a common origin, are comprised under the head of Species. Plants 
are apt to vary much, i'rom local influeuces, and to deviate somewhat 
from the regular form of the species ; these departures from the typical 
form are considered as Vaneties. Where varieties perpetuate their pecu- 
liarities from one generation to another by the seed, they form Races ; of 
which our cultivated plants furnish numerous examples. Those species 
which have many points of resemblance, though differing in minor char- 
acters, are grouped together in Genera, and genera again are collected 
into Families or Orders, these into Classes founded upon fundamental dif- 
ferences in the structure of the embryo, stem, &:c. The next group in 
the ascending order is that of Series, where the whole vegetable kingdom 
is separated into two gi-eat series, the one comprising the Flowering and 
the other the Flowerless Plants. 

54. In the descriptions of plants, the account given of the Order should 
apply to all the genera included in it ; that of the Genus should include 
the important characters of all the species it comprises ; and that of a 
Species should present those points which distinguish it from other 
species in the same Genus. 

The names given to plants are double, corresponding to the surname 
and baptismal names of persons. The name of the Genus is placed first, 
foUowed by that of the species ; the latter is usually in the adjective 
form. 

55. Of course all the plants that one meets with will not be found in 
this work, it being intended only to include those which are to be found 
in cultivated sections. In order to find the name and description of any 
particular plant, the first thing to be settled, (it being of course a flow- 
ering plant.) is. to which class to refer it ; this is usually indicated by 
the leaves, or, at any rate, it may be ascertained by making a cut across 
the stem. If it be an exogenous stem, then it must be ascertained 
whether the corolla is present, and if present, whether it is composed of 
many pieces or is a more or less entire single one. These preliminaries 
being settled, a reference to the Key and a little patience will soon de- 
termine the Family to which it belongs. If upon referring to the 
description, the plant in question agrees with the character given to the 
Family, then the genus is to be ascertained, and after this the species. 



A KEY 

TO THE 

NATURAL ORDERS OR FAMILIES 



OF PLAINTS DESCRIBED m THIS WOEK. 



Series ].. Flowering Plants. Plants with flowers, having Partem sud 
pistils, and producing seeds, which contain an embryo. 

Class I. Exogenous or Dicotyledonous Plants Stems distinctly- 
formed of &ar/c, ?worf and j9i^7t ; the wood in stems lasting from year to year, 
increasing by annual laijers on the ontside next the bark. Leaves netted- 
veined. Embryo with two opposite cotyledons, or (in the Pine family) seve- 
ral in a whorl. Parts of the flowers usually in fives or fours. 

Sub-class 1. Angiosperms. Pistil a closed ovary, containing ovulea 
and becoming the fruit. Cotyledons 2. 

Division I. Poltpetalous : Calyx and corolla both present (except in 
some genera of Order I) ; the petals entirely separate (except in Order 
XXX., where they are sometimes united). 

A. Stamens numerous, more than 10. 

1 . Stamens home on the receptacle, entirely free from the calyx, corolla or ovary. 

Pistils more than one, entirely separate from each p^gb 
other. 

Herbs with perfect flowers and divided leaves. Eanunculice^, 26 
Small trees with 6-petalled flowers and entire 
leaves. Anonace^, 36 

Pistils numerous, grown together one above 

another, covering the long receptacle, , Magnoliace^, 34 - 

Pistils only 1, or 2 - several, more or less completely 
united into one. 

Ovary simple and 1 -celled, with only one 
placenta. 

Petals large. Filaments shorter than the 

anthers. PodophyUum in Berberidacej3, 36 

Petals 4 and irregular, or else very small. Ranuncul \.ce.^, 26 
(16) 



KEY TO XATCEAL ORDERS. 



17 



Ovary compound, with manj seeds from a ^-^^^ 
central placenta. Portulacace^, 62 

Ovary compound, 1 - 5-celled ; if 1-celled, with 
2 - several placentae on the walls. 
Sepals falHng when the flower opens, 
fewer than the petaLs. Herbs with 

milky or colored juice. Papa verace^, 40 

Sepals falling after blossoming, 5 in 

number. Trees. Tiliace^ 68 

Sepals remaining beneath the fruit. 

Leaves all opposite, with transparent 

or dark-colored dots. Htpericace^, 54 

2. Stamens connected icith the base of the petals^ and these borne on the receptacle. 

Filaments united in a tube or column; anthers 
kidney-shaped, 1-celled. Malyacej-:, 63 

3. Stamens and petals united iciik and apparently home on the calyx {periyynous) 

Petals many, in several rows. Shrubs. Caltcanthace^, 135 

Leaves with stipules, alternate. Rosacea, 112 

Leaves without stipules. 
Pod many-seeded. 

Shrubs, leaves opposite. Pod 
with several cells. Philadel- 

[phus in Saxifragace^, 143 
Herbs; leaves fleshy. Pod 1- 

celled, opening by a hd. Portulacace^, 62 

Pod 2-seeded, 2-beaked. Shrubs 
or trees. 

Petals sometimes wantmg. HAMAiiELACE-E, 144 



B. Stamens 10 or fewer. 



1. Corolla irregular. (Pistil one.) 

Leaves opposite, palraately compound. Calyx 5- 

toothed. Shrabs or trees. Sapixdace^, 87 

Leaves alternate, with stipules. 

Filaments often united. Two lower petals 
approaching or joined. Pod simple with 

only one row of seeds. Leguminos^, 93 

Leaves alternate, without stipules. 

Flower 1-spurred. Stamens 8. Fruit of 3 

thick and closed pieces. Trop^OLACE^, 73 

Flower somewhat papihonaceous. Stamens 
4-8 in two sets; anthers 1-celled, 
opening at top. Fruit a 2-celled, 2- 

seeded pod. ' Poltgalace.e, 93 



18 



KEY TO XATUEAL OEDEES. 



2. Corolla nearly or quite regular. 

glamens as many as the petals and opposite tliem. 
Pistil and style 1 (the latter sometimes cleft at 
the summit). 

Anthers oponing by uplifted valves. Berbeeidace^, 36 

Anthers opening- lengthwise. 

Woody vines. Calj'-x minute ; petals 

falling very early. Yitace^. SI 

Shrubs. Calyx larger, its divisions 4-5. RHAm^ACEJE, 85 
Herbs. Sepals 2 : petals 5 : stigmas 3. Portulacace^, 62 
Stamens as many as the petals and alternate with 
them, or twice as many, or of some unequal 
number. 

Calyx-tube adhering to the surface of the ovaiy. 
Stamens more or less united with each 

other. Flowers monoecious. Cucurbitace^, 138 

Stamens distinct, as many or twice as 
many as the petals. 

Seeds many in a 1 -celled berry. 

Shrubs. Grossulace^, 136 

Seeds many, in a 2-celled or 1 -celled 

pod. Styles 2. Saxifragace^, 143 

Seeds many, in a 4-celled pod. Style 

1 : stigmas 4, Oxagrace^ 135 

Seeds only 1 in each cell. Border 
of calyx obscure, 
riowers in small axillary clus- 
ters. Pod 2-beaked. Shrubs 

or trees. Hamamelace^, 144 

Styles 2: fruit dry. Herbs 
with flowers in cora]pound 

umbels. Uitbellifer^, 145 

Styles 3-5 (rarely 2) ; fruit a 
berry. Shrubs or herbs, with 
flowers in simple or panicled 

umbels. Araliace^, 1 55 

Style 1. Flowers in cjanes or 
clustered in heads, sometimes 

surrounded by an involucre. Cornaceje, 157 
Calyx free from the ovary, at least from the fruit. 
Leaves with transparent or blackish dots. 

Leaves simple, entire and opposite. HtpericaCE^, 54 
Leaves compound or divided. RuTACEiE, 74 

Leaves without transparent dots. 

Pistils more than one. Leaves with 

stipules. EOSACE.E, 1 1 2 

Pistils 2, nearly distinct. Stipules 

none. Saxifragace^, 143 

Pistil 1, simple, 1-celled: style and 

stigma 1. Leguminos^, 9? 



KET TO XATUEAL ORDERS. 



19 



Pistil 1, compound ; either its styles, stigmas ^-^^^ 
or ovary cells more than 1. 

Style 1, entire, or barely cleft at top. 
Stamens united into a tube, vrith 

anthers in its orifice. 
Trees with odd-pinnate or biphmate 
leaves. Meliace^ 6{ 

Stamens distinct. 

Anthers opening by holes or chinks 
at top. 

Anthers opening across the top. Ericace^ 207 
Anthers opening lengthwise. 

Herbs. Stamens 6, 2 of them 
shorter. CEUCiFERiE, 42 

Woody plants. Fruit few- 
seeded. 
Stamens fewer than 

the 4 long petals. Oleace^ 264 
Stamens as many as 

the broad petals. Celastrj ce^, 86 
^^les or sessile stigmas 2-6, or style 
2 - 5-cleft. 

Ovary and fruit 1 -celled. 

One-seeded. Shrubs. Axacaediace^, 77 
Several- or many-seeded. 
Seeds in the cen- 
tre of the pod. Cartophyllace^, 56 
Seeds on tlie walls 
or bottom of 

the pod. Saxifragace^, 143 

Ovary with 2 - 5 or more 
ceUs. 

Sessile stigmas and sta- 
mens 4 -6. Aquifoliace^ 216 
Styles or long stigmas 

2 : fruit 2-winged. Acerace^ 89 
Styles or divisions of 
the style 5. 

Stamens 5: pod 
partly or com- 
pletely 10-ceU- f 
ed. * LiXACE^ 70 

Stamens 10 : pod 
5-ceUed. Leaves 

compound. OxALrDACE.j:, 72 
Stamens 10 (or 
fewer) : styles 
united with a 
long beak, spht- 
ting from it 

when ripe. GERANiACEiE, 71 



20 



KEY TO XATUEAL OK£>EES. 



DivTSio:^ II. MoxoPETALOUS : Calyx 3J^di corolla both present ; the petals 
more or less united. 

A. Tube of the calyx coherext with the oyaey, the corolla ap- 
farenily inmied on the ovary. 

Stamens united by their anthers, and 

Not by their filaments. Flowers in heads p^ge, 
which are furnished with an involucre. Composite 168 
Also more or less by their filaments. Flowers 
not in heads. 

Corolla hregular, cleft down one side. 

Flowers perfect. Lobeliace^ 206 

Corolla regular. Flowers monoecious. 
Tendril bearing vines. Cucurbitace^ 1-38 

Stamens separated f/om each other, and 

Inserted on the corolla. Leaves opposite or 
whorled. 

Leaves opposite, without stiiDules. 

Flowers in an involucrate head. DffSACE^, 167 
Flowers not involucrate. 

Stamens 2 -3. CoroUa 5-lobed. Yaleriaxac^le, 165 
Stamens 4-5. CoroUa 4-5- 

lobed. Caprifoliaoe^, 160 

Leaves opposite with stipules between 
them, or whorled without stipules. Eublice^ 163 
Inserted with but not on the corolla. 

Stamens twice as many as the lobes of 

the corolla. 
"Woody plants. Huckleberry sub-family 

[in Ericace^, 207 
B. Calyx free from the ovary ; the corolla on the receptacle. 
1. Stamens more in Jiumher than the lobes of the corolla. 
Leaves compound. Flowers commonly irregular. 

Pod 1-ceUed. LEGLUixosiE, 93 

Leaves simple or palmately divided. Stamens 

united into a tube. IEalvace.e, 63 

Leaves simple, undivided. Stamens united only 
at the base, or separate. 

Stamens on the coroUa, twice or fou' times as 

many as its lobes. Ebexacr^:, 217 

Stamens free from the corolla, twice as many 

as its lobes. Ericace^, 207 

2. Stamens as many as the 5, 4 or rarely 6-7 lobes of the reyular corolla. 

Stamens alternate with the lobes of the corolla, 5 
or rarely 4. 

Inserted on the receptacle. Ericace^, 207 

Inserted on the coroUa, but connected more 
or less with the stigma. Juice milk}-. 

FUaments monadelphous. " Asglepiadace^, 261 



KEY TO XATUllAL OKDEES. 



21 



Inserted on the corolla free from the stigma. pagb 
Style none ; stigmas 4 - 6 : corolla very 

short, deeply cleft. Aq'jifoli agile, 216 

Stvle 1, rarely 2, sometimes 2-cleft or 3- 
cleft. 

Ovary deeply 4-lobed, making 4 
akenes. 

Stamens 4. Leaves opposite, 

aromatic. Labiate, 228 

Stamens 5. Leaves not aromatic. Boeragixace^, 241 
Ovary and pod 1-celled : the seeds 
on the walls. 

Leaves entire and opposite. Gexhanace^, 260 
Ovary and fruit vrith 2 or more cells. 
Stamens 4. long. Flowers in a 

close spike. Plaxtaginace^ 218 

Stamens 5. Pod or berry many- 
seeded. 
Flower not quite regular. 

Style entire. Scrophulariace^, 223 

Flower quite regular. Sta- 
mens all alike. Solaxace^, 250 
Stamens 5. Pods with few 

large seeds. Twining herbs. Coxvolvulace^, 246 

3. Slamens always fewer than the lobes of the calyx or corolla, 2-4. 
Corolla more or less irregular, mostly 2-hpped. 

Ovary 4-lobed, making 4 akenes. Stems 

square ; leaves opposite, aromatic. Labla.t^, 228 

Ovary and fruit 4-celled and 4-seeded. Sta- 
mens 4. Yerbexage^, 228 

Ovary and pod 2-celled, with many large "] 
and winged seeds. 1 -p 

Ovary and fruit irregularly 4 - 5-ceUed, with \ J^i^^^'O^^-^CE^, 220 
many large seeds. J 

Ovary and pod 2-celled, with many or few 
small seeds. Scrophulartace^, 223 

CoroUa regular. Stamens only 2. 

Corolla 4-lobed or 4-parted. Shrubs or trees. Oleace^, 264 



KEY TO XATURAL OEDEES. 



Division III. Apetalous: Corolla none; the floral envelopes being id 
a single series (calyx), or sometimes wanting altogether. 

A, Flovters not in aments or catkin-like heads. 
1. Seeds many in each cell of the ovary or fruit. 
Calyx with its tube coherent with the 6-celled page 
ovary. Aristolochiace^, 268 

Calyx free from the ovary. 

Pod 3-ceUed or 1-celled, with 3 or more 

styles. Mollugo, &c., in Cartophtllace^. 56 

Pod or berry l-celled and simple. Eanunculace^, 26 

2. Seeds only 1-2 m each cell of the ovary or fruit. 
Pistils more than one to the flower, and separate 
from each other. 

Cal.yx present and petal-Hke. Stamens on 

tiie receptacle. Ranunculace^, 26 

Calyx present ; the stamens inserted on it. 

Leaves with stipules. Rosacea, 112 

Pittll only 1, simple, or formed of two or more, 
with tlieii' ovaries united. 

Styles 10. Pruit a 10-seeded berry. Phytolaccace^, 270 

Styles or stigmas 2-3. 

Herbs vvith sheatMng stipules and entire 

leaves. Poltgonace^, 278 

Herbs with separate stipules and com- 
pound or cleft leaves. Urticace^, 291 
Herbs with milky juice : stipules decidu- 
ous or none, and stigmas often forked. 

Fruit splitting mto 2-3 2-valved pods. Eethorbiace^, 287 
Herbs without stipules, and 

Without scaly bracts. Flowers small 

and greenish. Chenopodiace^, 270 

With scaly bracts around and among 
the flowers. Amarantace^, 27-5 

Shrubs or trees, with opposite leaves. 

Fruit a pair of keys. Acerace^, 89 

Shrubs or trees, with alternate leaves 
and deciduous stipules. 

Stamens on the throat of the calyx, 

alternate with its lobes. Rhamnace^, 
Stamens on the bottom of the calyx. Urticacej3, 
Style 1 ; stigma 2-lobed. Fruit a key. Leaves 

pinnate. Fraxhaus in Oleacejs, 

Style or sessile stigma 1, and simple. 

Calyx of 6 petal-hke colored sepals : sta- 
mens 9 - 12 : anthers opening by valves. 
Aromatic shrubs or trees. Laurace^, 
Calyx in the sterile flowers of 3 - 5 green- 
ish sepals : stamens the same number. 

Flowers monoecious or dicecious. Urticace^, 291 



8.5 

291 



264 



285 



KEY TO XATURAL OEDERS. 23 

B. Flo"ut:rs, o^te or both sorts, ix amexts or catki:s like heads. 

Twining dioecious herbs ; fertile flowers onlv in p^gh 
short aments. Humulus in Urtica;;e^, 291 

Shnibbv plants, parasitic on trees. Fruit a berry. Loraxthace^ 286 



Trees or shrubs. 

Sterile flovrers only in aments. Plowers 
monoecious. 

Leaves pinnate. Ovaiy and fruit -u-ith- 

out an involucre. Juglaxtdacej:, 302 

Leaves simple. Xuts one or more in a 

cup or involucre. Cupulifer^ 307 

Flowers of both kinds in aments or close 
heads. 

Leaves palmately-veined or lobed. 

Calyx 4-cleft, in the fertile flowers 

becoming berry-like. 3*Iorus in L^rticace^. 291 
Calyx none : flowers in round heads. Plataxacej:, 301 
Leaves pinnately-veined. 

Flowers dioecious. 1 on each scale. 

Pod many-seeded. Salicace-E, 328 

Flowers monoecious, the fertile ones 

2 or more under each scale. Betulace^, c24 

Flowers only 1 under each fertile 
scale. 

Fruit 1 -seeded. Mtricace-E, 323 

Sub-class 2. G-tmxosperms. Pistil represented by an open scale or leaf 
or sometimes entirely wanting ; the ovules and seeds naked. 
Flowers monoecious or dioecious. Stems 

branched. Leaves simple. C0NIFEE.B, 833 



24 



KEY TO XATUPvAL OKDEES. 



Aeace^, 344 



Class II. Exdogexous or Moxocotyledoxous I'laxts. Stem nol 
distinguishable into hark, ^vood and pith. Leaves mostlj paraUel-veined and 
sheathing at base. Pai'ts of the fiovser usually in threes. Embryo with a 
single cotyledoji. 

1. Mowers densely crowded on a spadix with or without a spathe. 
Herbs. The smaU and crowded flowers either 

naked or with a small perianth. 

Spadix with a large spathe surrounding it. "] pag^. 

Mower generally naked : fruit a berry. 
Spadix without a spathe. Perianth of 6 

pieces. J 
Spadis without any proper spathe : perianth. 

none ; fruit an akene. TTPHACEiE, 347 

2. Flowers not on a spadis, but variously disposed, having a calyx anl 
corolla, or a 6-leaved or 6-lobed (rarely 4-lobed) perianth colored and 
corolla-like. 

Perianth not adherent to the ovary, and 

Of 3 greenish sepals and 3 distinct and colored 
petals. 

Pistils manv, in a ring or head, forming 

akenes. " Alismacks:, 347 

Pistil 1, o-ceUed, many - several-seeded : 

style one. 

Slender scurfy-leaved plants, growing on 

trees. BROiiELiACE^, 349 

Of mostly 6 petal-hke leaves in 2 ranks, 3 out- 
side and 3 inside, or else 6- (rarely 4-) 
lobed, all colored alike. 

Stamens 6, or as many as the divisions 
of the perianth, all alike. 

Anthers turned outward, i. g., cn 
the outer side of the filament. 
Leaves alternate with side ten- 
drils, netted-veined between 
the ribs. Flowers dioecious : 

styles or sessile stigmas 3. Smilace^, 350 
Anthers turned inwards, i. e., on the 
umer side of the filament : style 1 : 

stigmas 1-3. ' Liliace.e, 3o1 ' 

3. Flowers not on a spadix and without any colored or corolla-hke 
perianth, but having glumes, i. e. , husk-like or scale-like bracts. Stems rush* 
like or straw-like. 

Glumes 6 in a whorl to each flower, like a calyx. Juxcace^, 358 

Glume one to each -flov/er, the flower in its axQ. 

Flowers collected into heads or spikes. Cyperace^, 358 

Glumes 2-4 to each flower, of 2 sort& Gramixile. 



AMERICAN 

WEEDS AND USEFUL PLANTS. 



SERIES I. 
FLOWERING PLANTS. 

Plants v^ithjlou-ers, having stamens and pistils, and producing seeds, 
which contain an embryo. 

CLASS I 

EXOG'ENOUS, OR DICOTYLE'DONOUS PLANTS. 

Stems distinctly formed of bark, wood and pith ; the wood, in stems 
lasting from year to year, increasing by annual layers on the outside 
next the bark. Leaves netted-veined. Embryo with two opposite 
cotyledons, or rarely several in a whorl. Parts of the flower usually in 
fives or fours. 

SUB-CLASS I. 

ANGIOSPER'MOUS EX'OGENS. 

Pistil a closed ovary, containing ovules and becoming the fruit. 
Cotyledons 2. 

DIVISION 1. 

POLYPET'ALOUS EX'OGENS. 

Floral Envelopes consisting generally of both calyx and corolla^ 
with the petals mostly distinct.^ 



* In the Rannnculacese sometimes the petals are absent, and in Leguminosse and 
Cucurbitaceae, some species have the petals more or less united. 

2 . (25) 



26 



WEEDS AXJy USEFUL PLANTS. 



Oeder L EANUNCULA'GE^. (Ceo^foot Family.) 

Herbs, or woody vines, with, a colorless and often acrid juice, and usually dissected Uaves, 
withoxit stipules ; petals sometimes wanting, and the caZyr, which is often colored like a 
corolla, hypogynous ; the sepals, petals, nmnerous stameiis, and many or few (rarely 
single) pistils, all distinct and unconnected. Fruit either dry p>ods, alcenes or berries 1 - 
several-seeded ; seeds with a firm, fleshy albumen, and a minute embryo. 

In many plants of this family, the juice is so powerfully acrid as to produce blistering ; 
the acridity in most is, however, destroyed by heat, and in many it is lost in drying. 
Many of the plants belonging to the order are cultivated for ornament, as the Colum- 
bine, Clematis, Anemone, Larkspur, Peony, &c. Some, as the Aconite, are eminently 
poisonous, while others, like Coptis, are simjple bitter tonics. 

§1. Petals none. Sepals colored and petal-like. Pistils several, becoming akenes in fru t. 
Upper leaves sometimes forming an involucre near the flower. 

Akenes several, not ribbed : three upper simple leaves forming a 

calyx-like involucre near the flower. Eadical leaves 3-lobed. 1. Hkfatica. 

Akenes several, ribbed. Involucre none. Leaves 3-4 times com- 
pound. 2. Thaucteum , 

§ 2. Sepals and petals present, the latter with a small scale at the base 
inside. 

Akenes in a head. 3. Raxtxccxcs 

3. Sepals petal-like. Petals, when present, small and irregular. Pis- 
tils forming several seeded pods, or follicles. 



Flower regular. 

Petals none. Sepals yellow. Leaves kidney-shaped. 
Petals small, hollowed at the apex. Sepals' whitish. 
Pistils stalked. 



4. Caitha. 

5. COPTES. 



Flower irregular. 

Upper sepal spurred. Petals 4, of two forms. 

Upper sepal hooded. Petals 2, long-clawed. 



Delphintcm. 
Acoximi. 



6 4. Sepals petal-like, falling off as the flower opens. Petals small, 2- 
torned at the apex. 



Flowers in a long raceme. 



8. CrffircrFTGA, 



1. HEPAT'ICA. Bilhn. Liteeleaf. 

[Greek, Uepar, the hver, from a fancied resemblance in the leaves.] 

Involucre of 3 simple leaflets, close to the floorers, resembling a 
calyx. Sepals 6 - 9 iu 2 - 3 rows, colored and petal-like. Petals none. 
Akenes in a loose head, compressed,- hairy. Leaves all radical. Flowen 
Bingle, on hairy scapes. 



CP.O^VFOOT FAMILY. 



27 



L H. tl'i'loba, Ckaix. Leaves broadly lieart-sliapc3, or someTvLat 
kidney-shaped, with 3 obtuse lobes ; sepals blue or purplish. 

Three-Lobed Hepatica. Liverwort. Liverleaf. 

Leaves on petioles 3-5 inches long. Scapes several, 4- 6 inches long, silky-viUous. in- 
volucre villous externally. 
Open woodlands ; common. April. 

Obs. One of the earliest flowers of spring, blooming in rocky woods 
as soon as the snow disappears. The leaves remain through the 
winter, and when old are purplish below. A variety, or what is by 
some considered a species [H.acutiloha, DC), has very acute lobes to the 
leaves. This plant, which has no especial interest to the agriculturist, 
is noticed on account of some popular reputation it has as a remedy. 
It forms a slightly astringent mucilaginous infusion, which is used by 
the " herb doctors'" in diseases of the lungs, in which it is probably as 
harmless as any other warm drink. ^• 

2. THALIC'TEUM, L. Meadow-rue. 

[A name of obscure derivation.] 

Often dicEcwm or polygamous. Sepals 4-5, petal-like, soon falling. 
Petals none. Akenes 4:- 15, rihhrd or grooved, pointed by the short 
style. Perennial herbs, with 2-3 ternately compound leaves and corym- 
bose or paniculate flowers. 

1. T. Cornu'ti, L. Dioecious nr polygamous ; leaves ternately decom- 
pound, divided to the base ; th.Qiie of the ctem without common petioles ; 
leaflets 3-lobed at the apex, ji^xaucous and more or less pubescent ; 
flowers white, in loose compoiv/U panicles. 

CoRXUTUs's Thalictrtjm. M^'idow-rue. 

stem 3-5 feet high, rather sto **, /:/anching, furrowed and hollow. 

Ohs. This is very cott/Ou in wet meadows and along -ivulet?, where 
its showy white flower^, are likely to attract the notice of the farmer. 
It can hardly be cons^^J'xed a troublesome plant. * 

3. EAN*' xrCULUS, i. Buttercup. Crowfoot. 

[Latin, Rana, a 'rog ; the plant often growing where that animal is found.] 

Sepals 5. Petal' ^, -^rith a scale or pit on the inside, at the base. Sta- 
mens mostly ruEierous. Akenes numerous, compressed, ovate, pointed, 
'disposed in "Oundish or cylindrical heads. Annual or perennial herbs, 
with ixK)s+iy radical leaves, and solitary or somewhat corymbed mostly 
yey^-/ir lowers. 



28 WEEDS AND USEFUL PLAXTS. 



1. R. hulho'sus, L. Hairy ; radical 
leaves petiolate, trifoliolate and some- 
what pinnately divided ; leaflets usu- 
ally 3-cleft, incisely toothed, the mid- 
dle or terminal one petiolulate ; stem 
erect, from a solid bulb-like base ; 
peduncles furrowed ; calyx reflexed, 
shorter than the petals. 
Bulbous Eaxuxculus. Buttercups. 
Crowfoot. 

Fr. Bassinet. Germ. Knolliger Ean- 
unkel. Span. Boton de Oro. 

Root perennial. Stem about a foot high, 
often several from the same root, more or 
less branched, clothed with appressed hairs. 
Leaves variously cut, the segments cuneate. 
Peduncles 2-6 inches long, sulcate-angular. 
PetoZs sometimes more than 5 (flowers double), 
deep yellow and shining. Carpels in a globose 
head. 

Pastures and meadows : introduced. Native 
of Europe. Fl. May. Fr. July, 

Ohs. This foreigner is extensively 
naturalized, and is considered quite a 
nuisance by farmers. The fleshy balb 
is highly acrid, affording a powerful 
rubefacient, and even causing ulcers 
when externally applied. Beggars 
in Europe, it is said, use it for this 
purpose, in order to excite sympathy. I do not know that cattle have 
been injured by it, but as it is a troublesome weed, when fully intro- 
duced, it may be well for farmers to know the plant, and eradicate it 
upon its first appearance in their grounds. 

2. R. a'cris, L. Hairy ; stem erect, not bulbous at base ; leaves 3-divid- 
ed, divisions all sessile an i 3 parted, their segments cut into lanceolate 
or linear lobes ; peduncles not furrowed ; calyx spreading. 
ACEiD Eanunculus. Tall Crowfoot. Buttercups. 

Pei-ennial. Stem 1-2 feet high, branched above, sparingly leafy, and with the petioles 
clothed with spreading hairs, but sometimes nearly smooth. Flowers nearly as large, but 
not so deep yellow, as in the preceding. 

Meadows and pastures. Native of Europe. June -Aug. 

Obs. Like the foregoing, this is an introduced weed ; it is common 
in New England and in New York State, though, according to Dr. Dar- 
lington, it has not become abundant in Pennsylvania. Both species 




Fig. 1. Bulbous Crowfoot, or Buttercups (Ranunculus bulbos^s) , the upper and lower 
portions of the stem 2. A separate petal, with a scale at the base. 



CEOAVFOOT FAMILY. 



29 




Fig. 3. Tall Crowfoot (Ranunculus acris) , reduced. 4. An enlarged flower divided, to 
Bhow the insertion of the distinct parts on the receptacle. 5. A head of alienes. 6. A 
%cparate akene. 



so 



WEEDS AND USEFUL I'LAXTS. 



are popularly known as Butlercnps, and in some localilies are so abun- 
dant in meadows, as to appear at a distance like an unbroken sheet of 
golden yellow. On account of their very acrid juice, cattle do not eat 
them in their fresh state., but when cut with the grass and dried, the 
acridity is dissipated, and they become apparently quite innocuous, 
Before the introduction of Spanish Flies, these and other species were 
used to produce blisters ; beicg uncertain in their operation, they are 
now seldom employed. About a dozen other species are to be found in 
the woodlands and meadows, and a few aquatic ones in streams and 
ponds. The only one of these which assumes the character of a weed 
at the north is R. repens, L., the long stems of which are usually pros- 
trate and rooting at the joints ; it has large bright flowers, and is some- 
times common in wet meadows. R. murkatas, L., is an introduced 
species, found in the fields in Virginia and southward. It has roundish, 
mostly 3-lobed leaves, and the akenes beset ^ith spiny tubercles or 
bristles. Both R. luJbcsus and R. ccris frequently become perfectly 
double by the transformation of their organs of fructification into petals, 
and are frequently cultivated in gardens. In the double R. bulbcsus, 
the flower is proliferous, the receptacle producing, instead of a head of 
pistils, a bud which developes as the old flower falls away ; this is 
repeated several times in succession. ^ 

4. CAL'THA, L. ^SIat^sb. Mapjgold. 

[Greek, Kal-afhos, a goblet ; from tlie cup-like form of the flower.] 
Sepals 4-10. Petals none. Pistih 5-10, without styles, forming in 
fruit many-seeded, compressed, spreading pods. Smooth j erennials, with 
large rotmd or heart-shaped entire leaves. 

1. C. palus'tris, L. Stem nearly erect, hollow, furrowed ; leaves round, 
heart-shaped or kiduey-shaT)ed, often wider than long, crenate or nearly 
entire. 

Haesh Caltha. Marsh Marigold. Cowslip. 

^'eni 5-10 inclies hisb. succulent, sometimes branched. Radical leaves on pdides 3- 
6, and finally often 12-15 inches long. Hoicers an inch or more in diameter, few, some- 
what corvmbose, bright yeUow.. 

Swamps and wet meadows ; common at the north. April. 

Ohs. This plant has considerable acridity when fresh, but heat de- 
stroys it : it is much used as a pot herb or gTeens in early spring. In 
Xew England its popular name is Cowslips (or corrupted into •• cows 
lops"'). It has no botanical relation to the Cowslip nor to the Marigold. 

5. COP'TIS, Salisb. Goldteeead. 

[Gre-sk, Kopto, to cut ; on account of its divided leaves.] 

Calyx of 5 - T petal-like, deciduous sepah. Petals as many as the sepals. 
smaU. thickened, and hollow at the apex. Stamens 15 - 30, shorter than 
the sepals. Pistils 3-7, each upon a short stalk, which lengihi-ns as the 



CROWFOOT FAMILY. 



31 



fruit matures. Pods membranaceous, spreading, pointed with tlie abort, 
sometimes recurved styh, fesv-seeded. Low, slender, smooth perennials 
with trifoliolate leaves, which survive the winter, and small white /oii'grs 
borne on scapes. 

1. C. trifo'lia, Salisb. Leaves ternately divided ; leaflets wedge-obo- 
vate, sharply toothed, obscurely 3-lobed ; scape 1-flowered. 
Three-leayed Coptis. Goldthread. Mouth-root. 

Rhizoma horizontal, creeping ; fibres bright yellow. Leaves on long petioles, very smooth 
ani shining ; leaflets a'oout an inch long. Scape slender but somewhat rigid and wiry, 
3-6 inches long. Floivers about two-thirds of an inch in diameter. Sepals obtuse, white, 
sometimes parplish miderneath. Petals much shorter than the sepals, veilow at the 
base. 

Obs. This beautiful little evergreen is found in boggy places and in 
damp woods from Maryland to Greenland. The long bright yellow fibres 
of the root have caused it to receive the common name of Goldthread. 
It is purely bitter, without any astringency, and is used in medicine as 
a tonic, in some places it is a domestic remedy for thfe sore mouths 
of children ; whence the name Mouth-root." That em>"»ent naturalist, 
John Ellis, in a letter to Linxaeus, dated London, Aprn 25, 1758, 
says : ' Mr. Colden, of Xew York, has sent Dr. Fothergill a new 
plant, described by his daughter (Miss Jaxe Coldex). It is called 
Fibraurea, Gold Thread. This young lady merits your esteem and does 
honor to your system. She has drawn and described 400 plants in your 
method only : she uses the English terms. Her father has a plant called 
after him, Coldenia ; suppose you should call this Coldenella, or any 
other name that might distinguish her among your genera.' Lixxaeus, 
however, referred the plant to his genus Helleborus, and when it was 
subsequently ascertained to be distinct, Salisbury, regardless alike of 
gallantry and Justice, imposed on it the name of Coptis." — Memoirs of 
Bartram and Marshall, p. 20. ^ 

6. DELPHIXTUM, L. Larkspur. 

[Greek, Delphin, a dolphin ; from a fanciful resemblance in the flower.] 

Sepals petaloid, irregular, the upper one produced into a spur at base. 
Petals 4, irregular, the two upper ones with a spur-shaped appendage at 
base inclosed in the spur of the calyx, sometimes united. Ovaries 1 - 
5, mostly 3. Follicles many-seeded. Annual or perennial herbs. Leaves 
petiolate, palmately divided. Flowers in terminal racemes. 

I. D. Consol'ida, L. Stem erect, with spreading branches ; leaves 
many-parted, the segments linear ; flowers few, in loose racemes ; pedi- 
cels longer than the bracts ; petals united ; pod solitary, smooth. 
Solder Delphixiu:.i. Lark-spur. [Caballero. 
Fr. Pied d'Alouette. Germ. Der Eittersporn. Span. Espuela de 

i2ooi annual. Stem about two feet high, and with the foliage and nowers somewhat 
pubescent. Flowers blue or violet-purple, sometimes the petals are multiphed into double 
flowers. 

Grain fields and waste places : introduced. Native of Europe. Fl. July. Fr. August 



32 



WEEDS AXD USEFUL PLANTS. 



Ohs. This plant (which gets its specific name from a supposed virtua 
in soldering or uniting wounded flesh.) has strayed from the gardens, in 
some places, and is an unwelcome intruder in grain fields and other cul« 
tivated grounds. This, and a kindred species, [D. Ajacis, L. with few 




erect branches, longer and more crowded racemes.) are so common in 
gardens, that it requires some attention to prevent them from trespass- 
ing on the farm. There are several other species cultivated for orna- 
ment, among them the curious Bee Larkspur (D. elatum), which has its 



Fig. 7. Field Larkspur (Delphinium Consolida). S. Upper sepal. 9 & 10. Laterat 
«epals. 11. Lower sepals. 12. United petals. 



CEO^FOOT FAMILY. 



33 



cfark bearded petals folded up in such a way as to resemble an insect in 
the centre of the flower. 

7. ACOXI'TUM, Tournef, Monkshood. 

[The ancient name.] 

Sepals petal-like, irregular, the upper one hooded and larger than the 
others. Petals 2 (the Slower entirely wanting or resembling sterile 
stamens), small spur-shaped bodies on a long slender daw, concealed 
under the hood. Pistils 3-5. Pccfs several-seeded. Acrid and poison- 
ous pei-ennial herbs with palmately divided leaves, and racemes or pani- 
cles of &}iovfj fiowers. 

A. Napel'lus, L. Flowers race- 
mose on short pedicels ; hooded 
sepal semicircular ; divisions of the 
leaves parted into Hnear lobes ; root 
fusiform ; flowers blue. 
Monkshood. TTolfsbane. Aconite. 

Root somewhat woo-ly. Stem erect, sim- 
ple, rather stout and very leafy. Flowers 
mostly dark violet or blue. 

Cultivated in gardens. Native of Europe. 
June. 

Ohs. This is a very variable spe- 
cies of which De CandoUe notices 
29 varieties, difiering in the color of 
the flowers and division of the 
leaves ; many of these are highly 
ornamental plants, and are often 
cultivated. All parts of the plant 
are highly poisonous ; especially is 
this the case with the root. Death 
has resulted from mistaking the 
roots for those of Horseradish in 
early spring. It is introduced here 
in order that its poisonous character 
may be known. 

8. CIMIOIF'UGA, L. Bugbane. 

[latin, Cimsx, a bug, a.u(lfugare, to drive away ; in allusion to supposed virtues.] 

^pals 4-5, falling soon after expansion. Petals (or altered stamens) 
minute, pedicelled.with 2 horns at the apex. Stamens numerous. Car- 
pels 1-8, follicular, many-seeded. Perennial herbs. Leaves hi- or tri- 
.ternately divided. Flowers in virgate racemes. 



Fig. 13. Moufehood (Aconitum Xapellus). 

2* 




34 



WEEDS AXD USEFUL PLA^'TS. 



I. C. racemo'sa, Ell. Racemes very long ; carpels mostly solitaryj 
ovoid, obliquely beaked by the short thick style. 

Racemose Cimicifuga. Tall Snake-root. Black Snake-root. 

Root large, branching. Stem 4-6 feet high, slender, smooth, leafy near the middle^ 
naked above and below, with one or two radical leaves on long erect petioles. Leaves 
ternately decompound, petiolate ; leaflets 2-4 inches long, acute or acuminate, unequal]? 
incised-dentate, the terminal one larger and often 3-lobed. Racemes terminal, branching 
6-12 inches long. Sepals 4, orbicular, concave, greenish white. Seeds compressed 
and angular. 

Rich woodlands. Fl. June. Fr. September. 

Obs. The white terminal racemes of this plant, when in flower, are 
quite conspicuous in the woodlands. The stem and leaves, when bruised, 
emit a disagreeable odor. The root is somewhat mucilaginous and 
astringent. Although a plant of no agricultural value, — and probably 
over-rated as a medicine, — the infusion of the bruised root is so gener- 
ally regarded as a sort of Panacea for stock (especially for sick cows), 
that every farmer ought to know it, and be able with certainty to desig- 
nate it. 



Order II. MAGNOLIA' CEJE. (Magnolia Family.) 

Trees or shrubs with the leaf-buds sheathed by membranous stipules ; large, solitary, hypo- 
gynous, polyandrous, polygamous^ow-'ers ; both sepals and petals colored and arranged in 
series of threes, imbricated in the bud. Leaves alternate, entire or lobed (never serrate). 
Stamens in several rows ; anthers adnate. FistUs mostly packed together and covering 
the prolonged receptacle. Seeds 1-2 in each carpel ; albumen fleshy ; embryo minute. 
A small but superb family, more ornamental, however, than important in agriculture. 

1. MAGNO'LIA, L. Magnolia. 

[Named in honor of Prof. FieiTe Magnol, a French botanist.] 

Sepals 3. Petals 6-9. Stamens with very short filaments and anthers 
opening inwards. Pistils crowded on the long receptacle, coherent in a 
mass, and forming a fleshy and rather woody cone-like fruit ; each carpel 
opening by its dorsal suture. Seeds berry-like, 1 - 2 in each carpel, from 
■v^^hich they are suspended when mature by a long thread or funiculus. 
Buds conical, the coverings formed of successive pairs of stipules. 

1. M. glan'ca, L. Leaves lance-oblong, obtuse, white beneath ; petals 
roundish-obovate ; cones small, oblong. 

Glaucous Magnolia. Laurel' or Small Magnolia. Sweet Bay. 

Shrub or small tree 4-20, or even 30 feet high, branching ; with a smooth, glaucous, aro- 
matic &arfc. iectfes thickish, 4-8 inches long, deciduous at the North but persistent at 
the South. Flowers white, on thick, club-shaped peduncles, 2-3 inches broad, very 
fragrant. 

Swamps from Massachusetts southward, mostly near the coast. June -Aug. 

Obs. This charming little tree is well worthy the attention of those 
who wish to surround their dwellings with attractive objects ; it 13. yar 
fectly hardy, and in cultivation attains a respectable size. 



SIAGNOLIA FAMILY. 



35 



2. M. aciTmina'ta, L. Leaves oval, acuminate, green and slightly pu- 
bescent beneath, deciduous ; petals oblong ; cones cylindrical. 
Acuminate Magnolia. Cucumber tree. 

Fr. Le Magnolier. Germ. Der Gurkenbaum. Span. Arbol de Castor. 

Tree fi-om 50-80 feet high, and 2 -3 or 4 feet in diameter at base. Leaves 6 -10 or 
12 inches long (on vigorous young saplings much larger — as is usually the case with all 
trees). Flowers large, bluish white, often with a tinge of yellow ; petals scarcely expand- 
ing. Fruil sub-cyhndric, 3-5 or 6 inches long. 

Mountain forests, New York to Georgia. Fl. June- July, Fr. Sept. - October. 

Ohs. The green fruit has some resemblance to a Cucumber (whence 
the common name of the tree) ; and being intensely bitter and somewhat 
aromatic, a tincture of it, prepared with whiskey, is a popular preventive 
of autumnal fevers, with those v>^ho are fond of an excuse for taking 
alcoholic medicine. 

Others of this genus may be cultivated in favorable localities; among 
them the Yellow Cucumber Tree (M. COrdata, Mx.) , with heart-shaped 
leaves and cream-colored flowers ; the Ear-leaved Cucumber Tree (M. 
Fraseri,^^/^-)' which has leaves a foot in length with auriculate lobes 
at the base ; the Umbrella Tree (M. Umbrella, ^'^^^^ leaves 1-2 
feet long and tapering at each end ; and the Great-leaved Magnolia (M. 
macrophylla,-^-?^-) having leaves 2-3 feet in length with a heart-shaped 
base. The great Laurel Magnolia (M. g^randlflora, L.), with its thick 
evergreen leaves, which are rusty beneath, and its large deliciously fra- 
grant flowers, is a native of North Carolina and farther south ; it endures 
the winter as far north as Philadelphia, and should be planted wherever 
the winter is not too severe. M, conspicua and M. purpurea are 
Asiatic species often seen in cultivation in city gardens ; the former 
bears white and the latter purple flowers, which in both cases appear 
in early spring, before the leaves are developed. The bark in all the 
species is bitter and aromatic, and is sometimes used in medicine. 

2. LIRIODEN'DRON, L. Tulip-tree. 

[Greek, Leirion, a lily, and Dendron, a tree ; from its lily-like flowers.] 

Sepals 3. reflexed. Corolla campanulate ; petals 6. Anthers extrorse. 
Carpels dry and samara-like, indehiscent, densely imbricated in a cone, 
1-2-seeded. A large tree. Buds ilat. 

1. L. Tulipif'eea, L. Leaves dilated, subcordate at base, 3-lobed, the 
middle lobe broad and emai-ginately truncate. 

Tulip-bearixg Lieiodendron. Poplar. Tulip Poplar. Tulip-tree. 
Fr. Le Tulipier. Germ. Der Tulpenbaum. 

Tree 80-120 feet high, and 2 or 3-5 or 6 feet in diameter. Leaves 4-6 inches long 
on old trees and about as wide as long — the side lobes often with a sinus making two 
points. Petals greenish-yellow, with tinges of reddish-orauge. Carpels produced at apex 
into a lanceolate-oblong wing, and closely imbricated in a qone on the fusiform receptacle. 

Rich woodlands : Canada to Louisiana. Fl. May. Fr. October. 

Obs The timber of this magnificent tree is highly valued in many 
b)'ancnes of tlie mechanic arts, especially the variety called yellow Poplar, 



36 



WEEDS AND USEFUE PLANTS. 



wliicli is generally to be known by its thicker and more deeply-furrowed 
bark. The hygrometric properties of the wood — particularly of the white 
variety — render it rather objectionable in cabinet furniture (causing" it 
to swell in damp weather) ; but the yellow Poplar is much esteemed for 
its mellowness, lightness, and durability. The bark of the root, and 
young tree, is a valuable aromatic bitter. The prevalence of the Tulip- 
tree, in woodlands, is a pretty sure indication of a good soil. 



Order III. ANONA'CEJE. (Custard-apple Family.) 

Trees or shrubs with naked huds, alternate entire and feather-veined leaves^ without stipules, 
and hypogynous polyandrous j^owe?-s, with 3 sejmZs and G petals, in two rows, valvate 
in the bud. Anthers adnate, opening outwards, on very short filaments. Petals thickish. 
Fruit pulpy or fleshy. Seeds large, with a minute embryo at the base of ruminated 
albumen. 

There is but one genus in this country. The luscious Custard Apples of the West Indies, 
and the Chirimoya of Peru are afforded by trees of this order. 

1. ASIM'INA, Adans. North American Pap aw. 

[A name coined from Asiminier, of the French colonists.] 

Petals 6, increasing in size after the flower opens, the outer series larger 
and spreading. Stamens in a globular cluster, covering the receptacle 
of the few instils. Fruits 1-3, large, oblong or ovoid, pulpy, several- 
seeded. Seeds horizontal, flat, enclosed in a fleshy aril. Shrubs or 
small trees with an unpleasant odor when bruised ; flowers axillary and 
solitary. 

1. A. tri'loba, Bunal. Leaves thin, obovate, lanceolate, pointed ; outer 
petals 3-4 times as long as the calyx, roundish ovate. 
ThreE'LOBEd Asimina. Papaw. 

stem 10-20 feet high, branched. Leaves 6-9 inches long ; petioles scarcely % an inch 
in length. Flowers appearing rather before the leaves ; petals brownish-purple, veiny, 
with tinges of yellow within. Fruit 1-Z inches long, consisting of 1-3 pulpy berry-like 
carpels. 

Western New York and southward. Fl. May. Fr. Sept. 

Ohs. The fruit of this tree is edible in its wild state, and is said to 
be much im^Droved by cultivation. It is introduced here with the view 
ot inducing those curious in such matters, to try what careful culture 
may effect in a fruit which is prized by some in its natural condition. * 

Order lY. BEB.BEPJD A' CEiE. (Barberry Family.) 

Shrubs or herbs, with alternate (sometimes compound or lobed) leaves, and sepals and 
petals imbricated in the bud, in 2 or more series of 2-4 each. Stamefis hypogynous, as 
many or twice as many as the petals, and opposite them ; anthers opening by 2 lids hinged 
at the top (except in Podophyllum). Fistil on\y one ; style short. Fruit mostly berry- 
like. Seeds albuminous. 

The fruit in this family is usually eatable, while the root, bark and foliage are astrin 
gent, or possess cathartic or poisonous qualities. 



BAKBEKRT FAMILY. 



37 



1. BER'BEEIS, L. Barberry. 

[Xame from the Arabic] 



Sepals 6, roundisli, bracteo- 
late. Fetals 6, obovate, with 2 
gland-like spots near the base 
inside. Stamens 6, irritable. 
Stigma orbicular, depressed. 
Fruit a 1 - few-seeded berry. 
Seeds erect. Shrubs with acid 
leaves and berries, and yellow 
flowers in pendent racemes ; 
wood and inner bark yellow. 
1. B, vulgaris, L. " Leaves 
scattered on the young shoots, 
mostly small with sharp-lobed 
margins, or reduced to sharp 
triple spines, from the axils of 
which, the next season, are 
produced fascicles of obovate- 
oblong closely bristle-toothed 
leaves, and drooping many- 
flowered racemes ; petals en- 
tire ; berries oblong, scarlet. 
Common Barberry. Bar- 
berry. 

Shrub 3-10 feet high, producing 
namerous suckers. Leaves about aa 
inch and a half long and half an inch 
wide. Racemes 2 inches or more in 
length. Berries about half an inch 
long. New England and New York. 
Fl. May. Fr. Oct. 

Ohs. This shrub is a native of Europe, and thoroughly nataralized 
throughout New England, and partially so in the State of New York. 
A native species (B. Canadensis, Pursh.) is found in the Alleghao'es, 
and also in the Himalayas of India. In New England the Barberry 
abounds along the road sides and in waste places, often forming dense 
thickets or natural hedges ; it sometimes, though rarely, assumes a tree- 
like form. It is a beautiful shrub, whether bearing its graceful yellow 
racemes of flowers in spring, or loaded with its coral-like berries in 
autumn. To those who observe plants closely, it presents several inter- 
esting peculiarities ; its stamens when touched with a pin, or other hard 
point, manifest their irritability by springing suddenly towards the 
pistil, where they remain for some time ; the anthers have a curious con- 




FiG. 14. Barberry (Berheris vulgaris). 15. An enlarged petal, showing the glandular 
•pots at the base. 16. A magnified anther, opening by valves hinged at the top. 



38 



WEEDS AXD USEFUL PLA^s'TS. 



trivance for tl:e liberation of the pollen ; instead of emitting it, ay is 
usually the case, through a longitudinal slit, there is a little valve or 
trap-door, hinged at the top, which opens spontaneously. The leaves 
of the young shoots afford a marked illustration of the nature of some 
kinds of spines. Though not generally enumerated among the hedge 
plants, it possesses many qualities which adapt it to this use ; being very 
hardy, long lived, and easily propagated. It was formerly a popular 
belief, and one vrhich prevails yet to some extent, that the Barberry 
possessed the power of blasting grain. The fallacy of this idea has been 
proved ; the only injury it can cause the grain is by shading it, which it 
is very likely to do when allowed to grow, unchecked, along the borders 
of fields. The berries, preserved in sugar, are in common use in Xew 
England, to eat with meat or to form an acid cooling drink in 
fevers. The inner bark has tonic and purgative properties, said to be 
somewhat similar to those of rhubarb : it is one of the remedies of the 
so called '-'Indian Doctors," according to whom the virtues are essen- 
tially modified by the way in which the bark is removed, whether by 
scraping upwards or downwards. 

A variety with reddish foliage, and several Asiatic species, are cul- 
tivated. The Mahonias, which are evergreen Barberries with pinnate 
leaves, are natives of the far west, and are fine ornamental shrubs. 

2. PODOPHYL'LUM, X. Mat-apple. 

[Greek, Pons, a foot and Pliyllon, a leaf ; tlie leaf resembling a web-foot.] 

Sepals 6, thin and caducous, not expanding, subtended by 3 caducous 
bracts. Petals 6-9. Stamens twice as many as the petals ; anthers 
linear-oblong, opening lengthwise by a laterally hinged valve. Ovary 
ovoid, crowned by the thick sessile undulate stigma. Fruit a fleshy 
berry, the numerous seeds crowded on the large lateral placenta, each in- 
vested with a pulpy aril. Herbs with 2-leaved 1-flowered stei'ns arising 
from a creeping perennial rootstocJc. 

1. P. pelta'tlim, L. Stems bearing 2 deeply lobed leaves : flower 

solitary from the point where the petioles unite. 

Peltate Podophyllum. May-apple. Mandrake. Hog-apple. 

stems 8-12 incbes bigb, the flowerless ones bearing a single large peltate leaf. Leaves 
4-6 inches in diameter, the lobes somevrhat toothed at the apex. Mower white, near!}' 2 
inches broad. Fruit 1-2 inches long, yellowish, shghtly acid. 

Woodlands, common. PL May. Pr. July -August. 

Obs. Besides the common names above given this is known in some 
parts of the country as Wild Lemon and Raccoon Berry. The fruit is 
edible and harmless ; its taste is mawkish^ and disagreeable to many 
persons. Both foliage and root are poisonous ; serious results have fol- 
lowed the use of the leaves as greens. The root is a violent purgative, 
resembling jalap in its action. Although one of the popular names of 
this plant is Mandrake, it is not related to the Mandrake or Mandragora 



BAEBEEKY FAAEILT. 



39 



of the ancients : notwithstanding its poisonous character (the reason of 
our noticing it) it is a very respectable herb in comparison with that, 
which, according to tradition, flourished best under a gallows, and had 
root resembling a man in shape, uttering terrible shrieks when it was 




Fkj. 17. Field Poppy (Papaver dubium) , reduced. 18. A capsule. 



40 



WEEDS AND USEFUL PLANTS. 



torn from the ground and possessing the power of transforming men 
and beasts. * 

Order Y. F AP AYER A' CEiE. (Poppy Family.) 

Herbs vriih a milky or colored juice and regular polyandrous, hypogj'nous Jloicers with 
the parts in twos or fours ; sejMls caducous ; /cuii a 1-celled pod or capsule Vyiiii 2 or mora 
parietal placentae ; seeds numerous, often crested ; embryo small, at the base of fleshy 
and oily albumen. 

Herts with a white juice. Seeds not crested. 

Capsule crowned by the radiate united stigmas. 1. Pafatek. 

Herbs with a j-ellow or orange-colored juice. Seeds crested. 

Stigmas 4-6. Pod and leaves prickly. 2. Argeuoxe. 

Stigmas 2. Pod narrow and smooth. 3. CHELiDOXirir. 

Stigma 2-grooved. Pod oblong, turgid. 4. Saxgxjisakia, 

1. FAPA'YER, L. Poppy. 

[Derivation of the name not well ascertained.] 

Sepals 2. Petals 4 (sometimes multiplied). Stigmas 4- 20, sessile, 
radiating on tlie summit of the ovary. Capsule oboYoid, opening by 
chinks or pores under the edge of the crown formed by the stigmas ; 
placcntce extending into the cavity so as to form incomplete partitions. 
Flowers nodding before opening. 

1. P. du'bium, L. Stem clothed with slender spreading hairs — 
the peduncles with bristly appressed hairs ; leaves pinnately dissected, 
the segments often incised, decurrent ; sepals hairy ; capsules obovoid- 
oblong, smooth. 

Dubious Pap aver. Poppy. Field-poppy. 

Fi: Pavot batard. Germ. Der Saat-Mohu. Span. Amapola. 

Root annual. Stem 1-2 feet high, somewhat branched below. Leaves 2-5 inches 
long. Peduncles terminal, 6-12 inches long, flexuose, leafless. Petals pale red or brick 
dust colored. Stigmas about 7-rayed, on a convex disk. 

Cultivated grounds ; introduced. Native of Europe. Fl. May. Fr. July, August. 

Obs. This has found its way into some districts ; and, if unattended 
to, may become a troublesome weed — as it and the " Corn Poppy " (P. 
Rhoeas, L.) are in Europe. The common or Opium Poppy, (P. som- 
niferum, L. — a smooth species with stem-clasping leaves) — which yields 
the most efficacious and soothing of all anodynes — is often seen in the 
flowerbeds of our gardens. I believe there was an attempt made, near 
New York, some 30 or 40 years ago, to cultivate that species for the 
purpose of obtaining Opium : but it did not succeed — and perhaps its 
culture, even if practicable here, is better suited to the Orientals, than 
to the people of our country. 

2. ARGEMO'NE, L. Prickly Poppy. 

[Greek, Argema, a disease of the eye ; supposed to be relieved by this plant.? 

Sepals mostly 3, prickly. Petals 4-6. Stigmas 3-6, subsessile, radiate. 
Pod oblong, prickly, opening at the apex by 3 - 6 valves. Seeds crested. 
Herbs with large showy flowers and yellowish /ftjce. Flower buds erect. 



POPPY FAillLY. 



41 



1. A. Mexicana, L. Leaves sessile, 
sinaate-lobed with prickly teeth, blotch- 
ed with white ; petals white or pale 
yellow. 

Mexican Argemone. Prickly Poppy. 

Annual or biennial. Stem about 2 feetliigh, 
branching. Leaves 3-5 inches long. Sepals 
hooded at tha apex and terminated by a stout 
spine. 

Gardens and waste places. Naturahzed from 
tropical America. June - October. 

Obs. This is but sparingly natural- 
ized in the Northern States, though it 
is a common weed at the South. It is 
sometimes cultivated in gardens, and 

should not be allowed to escape, as it has a strong propen?ity m travel; 
having made its way from tropical America to Asia, Afric^i, and tha 
South Sea Islands. " * 




3. CHELIDO'XIUM, L. Celaxdixe. 

[Greek, Chelidon. a swallow ; its flowers appearing with 
that bird.] 

Sepals 2. Petals 4. Stigma 2-lobed, sub- 
sessile. Pod linear, smooth, 1-celled, opening 
from the base by 2 valves. Seeds conspicu- 
ously crested. Perennial herbs with brittle 
stems, an acrid yellow juice, small yellow 
fimcers and divided leaves. 
1. C. Ma'jus, L. Leaves twice pinnatiiid, 
glaucous ; flowers in umbel-like clusters. 

Greater Chelidonium. Celandine. 

stem about 2 feet high , branched . Leaves 3-5 inches 
long. Pods about an inch in length, torulose. 

Fence rows and waste places. Native of Europe. 
May -August. 

Obs. A common weed about dwellings. 
Its very brittle stems, when broken, exude 
a saffron-colored strong-smelling juice, which 
is very bitter and acrid. The plant was at 
one time much extolled as a remedy for 
jaundice, but little use is made of it, except 
that the fresh juice is occasionally applied to 
warts. * 




20 



Fig. 19. A capsule of the Prickly Poppy (Argemone Mexicana) , opening by valves at 
the top. 20. Celandine (Cholidonium majus), summit of a flowering branch. 



42 



WEEDS AND USEFUL PLANTS. 



4. SANGUINA'KIA, L. Bloodeoot. 

[Latin, Sanguis, blood ; in reference to the red color of its juice.] 

Sepals 2. Petals 8-12, spatulate oblong, the inner narrower. Stigjnoi 
2-grooved, subsessile. Capsule oblong, ventricose, tapering at each end, 
2-valved. Seeds strongly crested. Pereniiial herbs with thick rootstocks 
containing an orange-red acrid juice ; flowers on scapes. 

I. S. Canaden'sis, L. Leaf mostly solitary, cordate reniform, long 
petioled ; flowers white, solitary on naked scapes. 

Canadian Sanguinaria. Bloodroot. Puccoon. 

Rontstock thickish, fleshy, reddish-brown, about 2 inches long. Leaf about three 
inches long and wider than long ; petiole erect, finally 6-10 inches in length. Scam 4-8 
inches high. 

Rich woods ; common. April-MaJ^ 

Obs. This is one of our earliest and most beautiful spring flowers. 
The flower, which is large for the size of the plant, is carefully j^rotected 
by the leaf which envelopes it before expansion. Late in the season 
the leaves increase so much in size, and are so altered in appearance, 
that they but little resemble their early state. The plant does well in 
cultivation. An orange-colored juice is found in all parts of the plant, 
but is most abundant in the rootstock, which, under the name of Blood- 
root, is used in medicine ; it is an emetic, and is also used for coughs, 
&c. ; in large doses it is poisonous. In some parts of the country the 
leaves are given to horses to promote the shedding of their hair, and 
the roots are given to destroy bots. ^ 

Order YI. ORUCTF'ERAE. (Mustard Family.) 

Herbs with, a, pungent, watery juice, Zecti-es alternate without stipules, and Jlowers in ra- 
cemes or corymbs ; the pedicels without bracts. Calyx of 4 sepals, deciduous. Corolla of 
4 regular unguiculate petals, their spreading limbs forming a cross. Stamens 6, 2 of them 
shorter (tetraclynamous) . Fruit a, Tpod (called a Silique when much longer than broad, 
and a Silicle when short) , which is 2-celled by a membranaceous partition that connects the 
two marginal placentae, from which the two valves usually fall away. Seeds without 
albumen. Embryo curved ; cotyledons flat or plicate, either with their edges to the radicle 
or with the back of one of them to the radicle. 

This order is a remarkably natural or homogeneous one, as well in the sensible proper- 
ties as in the botanical characters of the plants belonging to it. The flowers so nearly 
resemble one another throughout the family, that the characters for genera are taken 
from the pods and seeds. There are but few important ones, however, besides those 
here noticed. The Woad, or Dyer's weed (Isatis tinctoria, L.) is cultivated in Europe for 
its blue coloiing matter, but I beheve it is little known or attended to in the United 
States. 

§ 1. Pod separating into two valves when ripe. 

Pod usually many times longer than wide (silique.) 
PcmI not beaked. Seeds flat or oblong. 

Pod varying from oblong-linear to ovoid, nearly terete ; valves 

nerveless. Flowers white or yellow. 1. Nastubticm:. 

Pod obtusely 4-angled ; valves 1-nerved. Flower yellow. 2. Barbarea. 
Pod awl-shaped, pressed close to the stem. Flowers small, 

pale yellow. 3. SismBRicM, 



MUSTARD FAMILY. 



43 



Pod terminating in a strong beak. Seeds round. Flowers 
yellow. 

Calyx erect in blossom. 4. Beassica. 

Calyx spreading in blossom. 5. Sinapis. 
Pod sliort, not many times longer than wide (silicle or pouch). 
Pod globose (rarely forming). Flowers white. Leaves 

mostly undivided. 6. ARMORAaA. 

Pod pear-shaped, many-seeded. Flowers yellow. 7. Camelina. 
Pod flattened contrary to the narrow partition. 

Pod triangular obovate. Seeds many. 8. Capsella. 

Pod roundish, small. Seeds 2. 9. Lepiditui. 
^ 2. Pod not separating into valves but breaking up into joints when 
ripe. 

Flowers yellow or purplish. 10. Rathanus. 

1. NASTTJR'TIUM, R. Br. Water-cress. 

[Latin, Xasus tortus, a tortured nose, from the pungent effect of the plant.] 

Silique, nearly terete, sometimes almost as sliort as a silicle, usually 
curved upwards ; valves nerveless. Seeds small, irregularly disposed in 
a double series, not margined. Aquatic or subaquatic herhs. Leaves 
often piunately dissected. 

1. N. officinale, R. Br. Leaves pinnately divided ; segments rounded 
or oblong ; petals white, twice the length of the calyx. 
Officinal Nasturtium. "Water-cress. 

Fr. Cresson de Fontaine. Germ. Die Brunnenkresse. Span. Berro. 

Perennial. Stem 6-12 and 18 inches long, branching. Leaves odd-pinnately dissected 
segments in 3-4 pairs, the terminal one largest. Petals white. 
Brooks and rivulets : probably introduced from Europe. Fl. June. Fr. July. 

Obs. This plant (well known as the " Water Cress" in England,) is 
frequently cultivated, and is naturalized in some places; It affords an 
excellent and wholesome salad, antiscorbutic in its properties, as all the 
CrucifercE are, and being easily propagated, is worthy of being introduced 
into all suitable localities. 

2. BARBARE'A, R. Br. Winter-cress. 

[So named from having been formerly dedicated to St. Barbara.] 

Silique linear, somewhat 4-sided, the valves keeled by a mid-nerve. 
Seeds in a single series. Leaves lyrately pinnatifid. 
1. B. PR^'cox, R. Br. Lower leaves lyrate, the terminal lobe obovate, 
or rounded, coarsely sinuate-dentate ; upper leaves pinnatifid, with 
entire linear -oblong segments ; siliques linear, elongated, scarcely thicker 
than their pedicels. 

Early Barb are a. Scurvy-grass. Early Winter-cress. 

Fr. Roquette des Jardins. Germ. Die Winter-kresse. Span. Yerba 
de Santa Barbara. 

i?ooi biennial ? Stem 9-15 inches high, somewhat branching. Leaves smooth; lowef 
ones 3-4 inches long. Petals yellow. *S'i7iq'ites 2-3 inches long, slender. 
Gardens : cultivated. Fl. May -June. Fr. July -Aug. 



44 



WEEDS AND USEFUL PLANTS. 



Ohs. This plant, a native of Canada, and the country fufther north, 
Ib cultivated in the gardens, near Philadelphia, under the name oi 
" Scurvy-Grass," and is becoming spontaneous farther south. The 
leaves afford a tolerable salad, but not equal to the common cress [Lepi- 
dium sativum, L.,) nor to the Water-cress [Nasturtium officinale, R. Br.) 
There is another and stouter species [B. vulgaris, R. Br., probably 
naturalized), growing along our streams, which is sometimes used as a 
salad, but it is bitterish and inferior in quality to this. 

3. SISYM'BKIUM, L. Hedge-mustard. 

[An ancient Greek name, applied to tliis genus.] 

Silique somewhat terete ; 4-6 sided ; valves 1 - 3-nerved. Seeds 
oblong, marginless. Annual or perennial herbs. Leaves various. 

1. S. oiSciiia'Ie, Scop. Lower leaves runcin&te, upper ones some- 
what hastate ; racemes slender and virgate ; siliques erect, awl-shaped, 
close pressed to the stem. 
Officinal SiSYMBRimvi. Hedge-mustard. 

Fr. Herbe au Ohantre. Germ, Der Hederich. Span. Jaramago. 

Boot annual. Sleml-Z or 4 feet high, with spreading branches. Leaves pilose ; lower 
ones 3-6 or 8 inches long. Petals small, greenish yellow. Siliques terete-subulate or 
Bomewhat nerved and angular, tapering at apex. 

Cultivated grounds, lanes and road-sides: introduced. Native of Europe. Fl. May- 
Aug. Fi: Aug. - Oct. 

Obs. This foreigner is completely naturalized, and somewhat trouble- 
some as a weed. It was formerly held in some repute, in Europe, as a 
remedy for coughs, the hoarseness of singers, &c. (whence its French 
name) ; but its virtues were doubtless overrated, and it is now regarded 
by tidy farmers in this country merely as a plant to be expelled from 
their premises. 

4. BRAS 'SIC A, L. Cabbage. Turnip. 

[Supposed to be from Bresic, the Celtic name for the Cabbage.] 

Calyx erect. Silique sub-terete ; valves concave, or slightly keeled by 
a central nerve. Seeds in a single series, globose. Foreign plants : 
mostly biennial herbs, with a short stem and long flowering branches. 

1. B. olera'cea, L. Leaves somewhat fleshy, orbicular or oblong, 
strongly veined, repand or lobed, glabrous and glaucous. 
Oleraceous or Pot-herb Brassica. Cabbage. 
Fr. Chou potager. Germ. Der Kohl. Span. Berza. 

The following Sub-species or Varieties are more or less cultivated Id 
the kitchen garden. 



MTTSTAED FAMILT. 



45 



^Racemes paniculate. 

Sub-species Aceph'ala. Stem eloDgated ; leaves expanded, not form- 
ing a head. 

Tree Cabbage. Bore- Cole. Headless Cabbage. 
Sub-species, Bulla'ta. Stem somewhat elongated ; young leaves sub- 
capitate, finally expanding, bullate or crisped. 
Savoy Cabbage. Curled Cabbage. 

Sub-species Capita'ta. Stem short ; leaves concave, not bullate, 
densely imbricated in a head before flowering. 
Head Cabbage. Tork Cabbage. 

Sub-species Caulo Ea'pa. Stem with an oval or subglobose fleshy 
enlargement at the origin of the leaves. 
Bulb-stalked Cabbage. Kohl Eabi. 

"^'^Racemes corymbose. 

Sub-species Botry'tis. Leaves oblong, connivent, peduncles short, 
fleshy and coalesced in a head before flowering ; flowers often abortive. 
Var. a. Cauliflo'ea. Stem short ; heads thick, compact. 
Cauliflower. 

Var. b. Asparagoi'des. Stem taller ; leaves elongated ; heads some- 
what branched ; branches fleshy at apex, bearing clusters of abortive 
flower buds. 
Broccoli. 

Biennial. Stem 6 inches to 1 - 2 feet high, branching the second year from the summit, 
or head of imbricated leaves. Leaves large (6-12 or 18 inches in length) , suborbicular or 
oblong. Racemes long, loose. Petals greenish or citron yellow. 

Gardens and lots : cultivated. Fl. May -June. Fr. July. 

Obs. The forms above enumerated, although known by distinct 
popular names and in their cultivated state widely different in appear- 
ance, are all belie red to be varieties of Brassica oleracea, L., a native 
of the British Isles and the shores of northern Europe. They strikingly 
illustrate the changes which are produced in species by cultivation and 
the permanence of some varieties and races. They also give us instruct- 
ive lessons in the economy of vegetable life. In the several kinds known 
as cabbage (a name derived from the Latin caput, a head, through the 
French Cabus), the first year is passed in producing foliage and in 
accumulating in the thick leaves and stem a supply of nutriment for the 
growth of the plant the following year. If it is allowed to make its 
second year's growth, branches are thrown up which develop Avith great 
rapidity, and produce an abundance of flowers and fruit. This growth 
takes place mainly at the expense of the material contained in the 
leaves and stem, and we find that the large leaves are soon exhausted of 
their nourishment and decay, and that the stem, which was before solid and 



46 



WEEDS AND USEFUL PLANTS. 



heavy, becomes light and spongy. Frequently the stems or stumps, from 
which the heads have been removed, are set out in gardens for the pur- 
pose of procuring a crop of sprouts or " greens." These are lateral 
branches, developed from axillary buds, and they will be found to 
start from just above the scars left by the fallen outer leaves. In the 
Kohl Rabi, the stem is the principal place of deposit of nutriment, and 
becomes consequently the eatable portion. In the cauliflower we eat the 
fleshy flower stalks and undeveloped buds, which are crowded together 
iu a compact mass ; it is the same also in the Broccoli, where the parts 
are more developed. * 

2. B. campes'tris, L. Leaves slightly fleshy, glaucous ; the young lower 
leaves lyrate, dentate, somewhat hispid or ciliate ; those above amplexi- 
caul and acuminate. 

Field Brassica. Turnip. Eutabaga, &c. 

Biennial or annual. Root thick, turnip-shaped, depressed or orbicular, fleshy. Stem 1 
-4 feet high, branched above. Racemes '\oose. Petals yellow. 
Gardens and lots : cultivated. Ft. June. Fr. July -August. 

The following are the principal varieties found in cultivation : 

Sub-species Napo-bras'sica. Root tumid, turnip- shaped. 
Far. a. comjiu'nis. Root white or purplish, with the summit and peti- 
oles greenish or purplish. 
Turnip-rooted Cabbage. 

Var. b. Rutaba'ga. Root yellowish, subglobose. 
Rutabaga. Swedish Turnip. 

Sub-species Ra'pa. Root depressed-globose abruptly contracted beneath. 
Common Turnip. 

Obs. The Turnip has, like the Cabbage, by long cultivation, produced 
a number of marked varieties ; these were formerly considered to belong 
to different species, but the best authorities regard them all as forms of 
B. CAMPESTRis, L., w^hich is found growing spontaneously from the Bal- 
tic to the Caucasus. Besides those above enumerated as valuable for 
their roots, another variety (var. oleifera) is largely cultivated in 
France and other parts of Europe, for the sake of the oil, which its 
seeds afford ; this, under the name of Colza oil, is used for burning in 
lamps, the manufacture of soaps and other purposes. As this oil is im- 
ported into this country to a considerable extent, it might be advisable 
for farmers to ascertain if it cannot be profitably produced on our own 
soil. The various kinds of Turnips are largely cultivated in the tem- 
perate portions of Europe as food for stock, but the farmers-of the 
United States having the advantage of the Indian Corn crcp, do not 
n:uch incline to the Root culture; perhaps not so much as might be 
beneficial to Stock during our long winters. * 



MUSTAED FAMILY. 



47 



5. SINA'PIS, Tournef. Mustard. 

[A name of uncertain meaning ; derived from the Greek "j 

Calyx spreading. Silique sub-terete, with a short beak (which is either 
empty or 1-seeded) ; valves nerved. Seeds in a single series, subgiobose. 
Annual or biennial herhs — nearly allied to Brassica. Lower leaves usu- 
ally lyrate, incised or pinnatifid. Flowers in elongated racemes. 

1. S. ni'gra, L. Lower leaves lyrate and scabrous ; upper ones narrow 
and entire ; siliques somewhat 4-angled, smooth, appressed to the stem. 
Black Sixapis. Mustard. Black Mustard. 

Fr. Moutarde noire. Germ. Schwarzer Senf. Span. Mostazo. 

Root annual. Stem 3-6 feet high, much branched, smooth. Leaves petiolate. Ra- 
cemes slender. Petals greenish yellow. Seeds numerous, small, dark brown. 

Gardens au'l waste places : introduced from Europe. Cultivated in some districts. FL 
June -July. jR-. August. 

2. S. al'ba, L. Leaves all pinnatifid ; siliques hispid^ spreading, scarce- 
ly as long as the sword-shaped 1-seeded beak. 

White Sinapis. White Mustard. 

Fr. Moutarde blanche. Germ. Weisser Senf. Span. Mostazo bianco. 

Root annual. Stem 2-5 feet high, rather stout, branched. Leaves petiolate, lyrately 
pseudo-pinnate, the terminal segment large and 3-lobed. Petals rather large, yellow 
few, larger than in the preceding species, pale brown. 
Gardens : cultivated. Native of Europe. Fl. June. Fr. August. 

069. The.se two species, known as Black and White Mustard, from 
the color of the seeds, are naturalized in many places, having escaped 
from gardens, where they are cultivated for their foliage, which is used 
as " greens," but especially for their seeds. The condiment known as 
Mustard or Flour of Mustard is prepared by grinding the seeds and 
sifting out the husks, both the white and black being used indiscrimi- 
nately ; the powder from the latter is the most pungent, but the other 
affords the handsomest product. The skin of the White Mustard seeds 
contains a large amount of mucilaginous matter which is dissolved out 
by boiling water. The seeds are sometimes administered whole as a 
remedy in dyspepsia, &c. It is worthy of remark, that the pungency of 
mustard is only developed when mixed with water : if the dry seeds are 
expressed they yield a mild oil which has scarcely any taste of mustard. 
A small quantity of sulphur is contained in Mustard, and in Turnips 
also ; it is this which causes the blackening of a silver spoon when used 
in serving either of these article^. * 

3. S. arven'sis, L. Pods smooth, knotty, about twice the length of the 
conical 2-edged usually empty beak ; upper leaves merely toothed. 
Field Sixapis. Wild Mustard. Charlock. 

Anniud. .S'ifem 2 - 3 feet high, diffusely branched and somewhat rough with short retrorse 
hairs. Lower Zeat-es large , 6 inches or more in length, lyrate pinnatifid. Flowers bright 
yellow about the size of those of the common turnip. Pod about an inch long and pointed 
with the stout beak. 

Fields New York and westward. Native of Europe. June -August. 



4:8 



WEEDS AND USEFUL PLANTS. 



Obs. This is an exceedingly troublesome weed in Europe, and is be- 
coming so in some portions of this country. It infests those grounds 
which are best suited to grain-culture ; as the seeds retain their vitality 
for a long time it is very diflScult to eradicate it when once established. 




In this, as in other cases, the plant should be destroyed before the seed 
is formed ; as sheep are fond of the herbage they are sometimes turned 
into a field to destroy the crop of Charlock. ^' 

6. ARMORA'CIA, Rupp. Hoeseradish. 

[Name from one of the Greek Dames for Radish.] 

Pod (pouch) elliptical or globose ; the valves turgid, not nerved. 
Petals white, much longer than the calyx. Seeds numerous. Leaves 
undivided or the lower ones pinnatifid. 

1. A. rusticana,Rupp. Radical leaves on long petioles, oblong, crenate, 
rarely pinnatifid ; those of the stem lanceolate. 
Rustic ikRMORACiA. Horseradish. 

Fr. Moutarde des Capucins. Germ. Der Meer-Rettig. ^an. Rabano. 

Root perennial, long, terete, fleshy white, very acrid. Stem 2-3 feet high, angular 
striate, smooth, with erect axillary branches. Radical leaves large (8-15 inches long- 
somewhat resembling those of a Dock, or Rumex) ; petioles 4-12 inches long. Racem/t 
corymbose, elongating. Petals white. Silicles oval, usually abortive. 

Gardens : margins of ditches, &c. : introduced. Native of Europe. Fl. May -Jam 
Jane -July. 



Fig. 21. Field Mustard (Sinapis arvensis) , illustrating the general appearance of Cower 
m this family. 22. An enlarged flower opened to show the unequal stamens. 23. A pod 



MTJSTAED FAMILY. 



49 



Obs. The pungent root of this plant is a favorite condiment, — and one 
of the most valuable antiscorbutics. It requires little or no culture ; 
but thrives best in a moist, rich, deep soil. 

7. CAMELI'^^A, Crantz. False Flax. 

[Greek, CJiamai, dwarf, and Linon, flax ; from a fancied resemblance.] 

Pod (pouch) obovoid or pear-shaped, pointe-d, turgid ; valves 1-nerved ; 
cells many-seeded. 




1. C. sati'va, Crantz. Leaves sessile, oblong-lanceolate, nearly entire, 
sagittate at base ; silicles margined, mucronate with the longish sub- 
conical style. 



Fig. 24. False Flax (Camelina sativa), upper portion of a branch in fruit. 25. Am 
enlarged capsule. 

3 



50 



WEEDS AXD USEFUL PLANTS. 



OuLiivATO- 0-A3rELixA. Wild Flax. Gold of Pleasure. 

Fi\ CameliDe cultivee. Geiin. Der Leindotter. Sjjo.n. Miagro. 

Boot annual, fusiform, ratlicr slender. Stem IS inclies to 2 or tliree feet liigh, simple 
paniculately branching at summit, rougliisli-pubesceut below, smoothish above. Leaoes 
1-3 or 4 inclies long ; the lo^Ter ones longest and often somewhat spatulate or ob lance- 
olate ; those above graduaUv smaller and smoother, sagittate with acute subamplexicaul 
lobes at base ; pubescence of the lower leaves and stem often branched or bifurcate. 
Racemes corrmbose-paniculate, elongating ; pedicds half an inch to an inch long, without 
bracts. Pdals pale yellow, rather small, c'uneate or obovate-oblong, obtuse. Silicl-cs 
about one-fourth of an inch long, with a keel-hke margin on each side ; style about half as 
long as the silicic, persistent, finally sphtting with the dehiscent valves. Seeds reddish 
yellow. 

Cultivated fields : among wheat, flax, kc: introduced. Native of Europe. H. ilay- 
June. Fr. July 

Obs. This was introduced witli Flax, and remains as a weed where 
the culture of that plant has been abandoned. It was formerly a popu- 
lar notion that the plant was a kind of transmuted or degenerate Flax, 
and is spoken of by the older writers as Pseudo Linum (False Flax). 
Such errors as this and the one that Wheat degenerates into Chess 
would no longer hold a place among agriculturists, did they but prop- 
erly inform themselves concerning the objects among which their 
lives are passed. 

8. CAPSEL'LA, Vent. Shepheed's Pcese. 

[Diminutive of the Latin, Capsula, a capsule ; in allusion to the frmt.] 

Pod (pouch) iuversely triangular-heart-shaped ; valves boat-shaped, 
coriaceous, not winged ; cells many-seeded. Flowers small, in elongat- 
ing racemes. 

1. C. Biirsa-pdstoris, Moench. Eadical leaves mostly pinnatifid ; 
ttem-leaves lanceolate, arrow-shaped, sessile. 

Shepherd's Purse Capsella. Shepherd's Pm-se. [Pastor. 
Fr. Bourse de Pasteur. Germ. Die Hirten-tasche. Span. Bolsa de 

iJoof annual. ^€)?i3or4-lS inches high, more or less hirsute, and often branched. 
Radical leaves 2 or 3-6 or 8 inches long. Racemes at first corymbose, finally elongated. 
PeMs white. 

Fields and road-sides: introduced. Native of E'orope. Fl. April -September. Fr. 
June -October. 

Ohs. This worthless little intruder is found in almost every field ; and 
is sometimes so abundant as to be rather a nuisance. Such small 
weeds, however, can generally be suppressed by careful culture, and in- 
ducing a vigorous growth of more useful plants. 

9. LEPID'IUM, R, Br. Peppergrass. 
Pod (pouch) roundish, flattened contrary to the narrow partition, usually 
notched at the apex ; the valves boat-shaped and keeled. Seeds 1 in 
each cell. Flowers small, white. Stamens often only 2. 



JJUSTAED FAMILY. 



51 



i. L. sati'yum, L. Leaves oblong, variously incised and pinnatifid j 

Bilicles elliptic-ovate, winged and notched at apex. 

Cultivated Lepidiuji. Pepper-grass. Tongue-grass. 

Fr. Cresson Alenois. Germ. Die Garten-Kresse. S^an. Lepidio. 




Fig. 26. Shepherd's Purse (Capsella Bursa-pastoris) . 27. An enlarged pod (silicJe Of 
pouch) with one of the valves removed. 



52 



WEEDS AND USEFUL TLA^O'S. 



Root annual. Slem 9-18 inclies high, smooth, glaucous, corymhosely branched above. 
Leaues 1-3 inches long, deeply divided into hnear or cuneate segments. Petals vfliitQ. 
Seeds compressed. 

Gardens : cultivated. Native of Persia. Fl. June -July. Fr. August. 

Obs. A pleasant antiscorbutic Cress, frequent in Gardens. 

2. L. Virgin 'icum, L. Pods orbicular, wingless, notched at the apex ; 
upper leaves linear lanceolate, toothed ; stamens 2. 

YiEGiNiAN Lepidium. Wild Pepper-grass. 

Annual. Ste>n a foot or more high, paniculately branched above, minutely pubescent. 
Flowers especially late in the season, minute. Pods on spreading pedicels. 
Common. June -September. 

Ohs. This common weed is a native of the southern portion of our 
country, and is abundantly naturalized in many parts of Europe — thus 
making a partial return for the abundant supply of weeds which Las 
crossed the ocean to our shores. It is very frequent in dry fields and 
along road-sides. The reddish-brown seeds are sometimes found among 
clover seed, and excite apprehension of some pernicious intruder ; but 
although a worthless little weed, if there be nothing worse among clover 
seed, the farmer need not be alarmed. L. ruderale, L., with oval and 
smaller pods and no petals, and L. campestre, L., with winged pods 
roughened with minute scales, are European species which are as yet but 
sparingly naturalized. 

10. EAPHA'XUS, L. Radish. 

[Greek, Ra, quickly, andphavio, to appear from its quick germination.] 

Pod elongated, 2 - many-celled by corky transverse partitions. Style 
long. Seeds in a single series, globose. Annmls or bienniah, with yel 
lowish, whitish or ^uvple Jloivers. 




28 



1. E. SATi'vus, L. Lower leaves lyrate, petiolate ; upper ones ovate- 
oblong, serrate, subhastate-lobed at base, subsessile ; petals purple and 
greenish white ; siliques terete, torulose, acuminate, scarcely longer than 
the pedicels, many-celled by corky false partitions. 
Cultivated Raphaxus. Eadish. Garden Eadish. 
Fr. Eadis. Eaifort. Germ. Der Eettig. Span. Eabano. 
The following varieties are usually cultivated : 



Fig. 28. Cultivated Kadish (Raphanus sativus), opened to esaibit the cellular partitions 



ilUSTAEP FASIILY. 



53 



Suh-spccies Eadicula. Eoot more or less fleshy, tender, white or red. 

Var. a. rotunda. Koot subglobose. Turnip-radish. 

Var. b. oblonga. Eoot oblong or fusiform. Common Eadish. 




Sub-species Niger. Eoot fleshy, solid and firm, more or less acrid, blacB 
externally, white within. 



Fig. 29. Wil I R.idish (Raplianus Raphanistrum), reduced. 



54 



ArEEDS AXD USEFUL PLAXTS. 



Var. a. oblongus. Root oblong. 
Var. b rotundus. Eoot subglobose. 
Black Turnip-radish. Spanish Radish. 

Annual. Stan 1-3 feet liigh, sparsely hispid, ■branched. Leaves S-12 or 15 incbea 
long, hispid. Siliques with fungous or snherose partitions. Seeds few, \arso. 
Gardens, &c. : cultivated. Native of China. 11. June -September. J'jC July- October. 

0^5. The tender fleshy rcot of this plant is an universal favorite at 
table, in early spring, and is found in every garden ; v\-here, by succes- 
sive planting, it may be produced all summer. To produce the^ root in 
perfection, a rich mellow soil and a wet season are requisite. It is 
somewhat spontaneous in some places, the seed having escaped from 
gardens. 

2. R. Raplianlstrum, L. Pod long-beaked, 2-jointed ; the lower joint often 
seedless and stalk-like ; the upper one necklace-form by constriction be- 
tween the seeds, with no proper partition ; flowers yellow, turning white 
or purplish. 

Wild Radish. Jointed Charlock. 

Eoot annual, long and tapering. Loive)- leaves lyrate, the upper lohe large and rounded • 
the upper leaves lanceolate, sinuate-dentate, all rough with bristly hairs. 
Fields especially eastward. July -September. 

Obs. Naturalized from Europe, and a troublesome weed in New Eng- 
land and New Tork S Late, and extending westward. 

OEDERYn. HYPEEICA'CE^. (St. Johx's-wort Family.) 

Herbs or shrubs, with a resinous juice. Leaves opposite, eijtire, without stipules, punctate 
with black or pellucid dots. Floivers regular. Calyx oi 4:-b persistent sepals, the 2 
outer ones often smaller. Pefak 4-5, convolute in the bud, often sprinkled with black 
dots. Stamens usually numerous and united in 3 or more clusters. Capsule with septici- 
dal dehiscence, many-seeded. Seeds destitute of albumen. 

An order containing but few genera ; and those of little interest to the Agriculturist,— 
with the exception of the obnoxious species here noticed. 

1. HTPER'TCUM, L. St. John's-wort. 

[A name of obscure derivation and meaning.] 

Sepals 5. Petals 5, oblique or unequal-sided. Stamens mostly numer- 
ous ; the filaments united at base in 3 - 5 parcels. Styles 3-5, per- 
gistent, sometimes united. Capsule membranaceous, 3-celled by the pla- 
centae meeting at the axis. Herbaceous or shrubby. Flowers cymose. 

1. H. perforatum, L. Herbaceous ; stem somewhat two-edged ; leaves 
linear-elliptic, rather obtuse, sessile, pellucid punctate ; flowers in leafy 
paniculate corymbs : petals and anthers with dark purple dots ; styles 3, 
long, diverging. 

Peeforited HYPEKicuir. St. John's-wort. 

Fr. Millepcrtuis. Germ. Pas Johannes kraut. Spa/2. Corazoncillo. 



ST. JOHN'S-WOET FAMILY. 



55 



7&jo< perennial. Sfm herbaceous but finally hard , 1 - 2 feet high, often several from 
the same root, corymbosely branched. Leaves half an inch to an inch and a half long. 
FttaU yellovf or orange-colored. 

Fields and pastures: introduced. Xative of Europe. Fl. June - September. Fr. 
July - October. 

05.5. This is a worthless and rather troublesome weed on our farms ; 
and ought to be diligently excluded. Some 40 or 50 years ago, it was 
very common for cattle — especially ichite cows, and horses with white 
feet and noses — to be aSected with"^ cutaneous ulcers during the pasture 
season ; and those sores were universally and confidently attributed to 
the St. John's-wort. In those days, I never doubted the fact, myself : 
but I must in candor add^ that, although the plant continues to be 




abundant in our pastures, I have not noticed any such sores for a num- 
ber of years past. "Was the affection ascribed to a wrong source ? aad 
has the real cause ceased to exist ? The floivers and leaves are evidently 
somewhat resinous ; and a tincture of them has held a place among 
popular remedies for disorders of the stomach and bowels. It is 
worthy of remark, that in the year 1842, the St. John's-wort totally 
failed to make its appearance (in Chester County — and I believe 
throughout PeuDsylvania,) even in fields where it had previously 
abounded. The succeeding year it was quite rare ; but it has since 
become as common as ever, in neglected fields. The cause of that total 
though temporai-y, disappearance of a perennial-rooted plant, is as ob- 
scure as the fact is curious. 



Fig. 30. St. Jcha's-wort (Hypericum perforatum), summit of a flowering branch. 31. 
An enlarged flower showing the clustered stamens. 32. A magnified pod. S3. TLs 
aame divided crosswise. 



56 



WEEDS AND USEFUL PLAINTS. 



This plaat is called St. Jolm's-wort, because it was supposed, iu olden 
times, to have the power of keepiug ofx evil spirits, which were supposed 
to be particularly busy on St. John's night. It is said that the custom 
is still followed, in the retired parts of the Pyrenees, of hanging gar- 
lands of the herb over the doors to preserve the inmates of the house 
from " storms, thunder, heretics, and other evil spirits." 



Order Yin. CARTOPHTLLA'CE^. (Pink Family.) 

Herbs, with stems tumid at tlie nodes or joints, with opposite, often connate, entire leaves, 
tisuaily without stipules, and mostly regular flowers. CaZi/x of 4-5 sepals, distinct or mbre 
Br less cohering — often united into a tube. Corolla of 4 - 5 petals — or sometimes wanting. 
Stamens OlS ma.ny — or commonly twice as many — as the petals. Styles, or stigmas, 2- b. 
Capsule 2-5-valved — or opening only at apex by twice as many teeth or valve-points as 
Stigmas. Seeds curved, mostly numerous : embryo coiled around the outside of mealy 
albumen 

An Order, comprising about SO genera, and a great number of species, — some of them 
(such as the Pinks) are very pretty and fragrant : bat none of agricultural value. 

The greater number of the representatives of the family growing wild, with us. are 
weeds which, with few exceptions, are cot very troublesome, but as several are very 
frequent in cultivated lands and are likely to attract the notice of farmers, descriptions of 
the most common ones are given. 

^1. Pink Sue-family. Sepals united into a tubular calyx. Petals 5, each with a long 
Blender claw and with the stamens borne oa the stallc of the ovary. Pod opening at the 
apex. 

Calyx with leafy lobes, which are longer than the petals. Styles 5. 1. Agrostemma. 

Cal^rx without leafy lobes, cylindrical, even. Styles 2. 2. Sapoxaeia. 

^ 2. Chickweed Sub-family. Sepals distinct or nearly so. Petals (some- 
times wanting) without claws, inserted with the stamens at the base of 
sessile ovary. Pod splitting into valves or opening by teeth, few - 
many-seeded. 

Pod 3-celled, many -seeded. Petals none. 3. Mollugo. 

Pod 1-celled. Styles 3-5. 
Stipules none. 

Styles 5. Petals 5. Pod opening by 10 teeth. 4. Cerasttctsi. 

Styles 3-4. Pod splitting into valves. 5. Strt.t.aru. 

Leaves with scaly stipules. 

Styles 5. Leaves thread-like, whorled. 6. Spergula. 

1. AGEOSTEM'MA, L. Corn-cockle. 

[Name from the Greek, meaning crown of the field.] 

Ca/</x tubular, without scales at the base, with 5 long leaf-like teeth 
which fall off in fruiting. Petals 5, not crowned at the throat. Stamens 
10. Styles 5. Pod opening at the top by 5 teeth. Annual or biennial. 
1. A. Githa'go, L. Hairy ; leaves lance-linear, acute ; petals obovate 
emarginate. 

GiTH-LiKE Agrostemma. Com-cockle. Rose-campion. 

Fr. La Nielle des Bles. Germ. Gemeine Bade. Span. Neguillon. 

Ptoni clothed with long appressed hairs. i2ooi annual, Sifejn 2-4 feet high, branched 
above. Leaves 3-5 inches long. Peduncles terminal, 4-8 or 10 inches long. Petals red- 
dish or pale violet-purple. Capsule ovoid. Seeds numerous, muricately ribbed, purplish- 
black. 

Cultivated grounds — chiefly among wheat and rye : introduced. Native of Europe. Fi 
Tune Fr. July. 



PIXK FAMILY. 



57 



Obs. This foreign weed (specifically named Githago, from its fancied 
resemblance to " Gith," or Guinea Pepper), though diligently rooted out 
by all neat farmers, obstinately maintains its ground in our grain fields 




The rough black seeds, when abundant among wheat (and their size 
makes it difficult to separate them from it) , are injurious to the quality 
and appearance of the manufactured flour. 



Fig. 34. Corn-cockle (Agrostemma Githago), reduced. So. A pod with the enclosing 
calyx divided lengthwise, a A seed. 

3^- 



58 



WEEDS AND USEFUL PLANTS. 



2. SAPONA'EIA, L. Soapwoet. 

[Latin, Sapo, soap ; its mucilagt affordiog a substitute for that article .j 

Calyx tubular, 5-tootlied, naked at tlie base. Stamens 10. Styles 2. 
Capsule short-stalked opening with 4 teeth at the apex. Embryo coiled 
into a ring. 




1. S. officina'lis, L. Leaves oval-lanceolate ; flowers in corymbose 
clusters ; petals crowned with an appendage at the top of the claw. 
Officinal Saponaeia. Soapwort. Bouncing Bet. 

Perennial. jSiem 12 -18 inches higli. ieares 1>^- 3 inches long. i^"Zowm large, pale 
rose color, often double. 
Waste places. Native of Europe . July - Sept. 

Ohs. A conspicuous weed, spreading by the root and forming large 
bunches near buildings and giving a slovenly appearance to the farm. 
The plant has been employed medicinally in Europe, as a substitute for 
Sarsaparilla in diseases of the skin. * 



Fig. 36. Soapwort (Saponaria officinalis). 



PLXK FAMILY. 



59 



3. MOLLU'GO, L. Carpet-weed. 

[An old Latin name, coined from mollis, soft.] 

Sepals 5, white within. Petals none. Stamens 3-5, Lvpogynous. 
Stigmas 3. Pod 3-ceUed, S-yalved, many-seeded. Diflfiisely branched 
prostrate annuals. 

1. M. verticilla'ta, L. Prostrate and dichotomoiisly branched ; leaves 
spatiilate, in whorls ; peduncles axillary, 1-flowered, forming umbel-like 
clusters. 

Yerticillate Mollugo. Carpet-weed. Indian Chickweed. 

stem branching in all directions, forming patches a foot or more in diameter. Leaves 
somewhat succulent, about an inch long, usually in whorls of 6. 
Cultivated grounds, common. June -Sept. 

055. A very common little weed in cultivated grounds, especially 
where the soil is sandy, throughout the country. 

4. CERAS'TIUM, L. Mouse-ear Chickweed. 

[Greek, Keras, a horn ; from the shape of the capsules.] 

Sepals 5. Petals 5, 2-lobed. Stamens 5-10. Styles as many as the 
sepals and opposite them. Capsule longer than the calyx, opening at 
the apex by 10 teeth and many-seeded. Flowers white. 

1. C. vulga'tum, L. Very hairy ; leaves ovate or obovate, obtuse ; 
sepals longer than the pedicels ; capsule slightly curved,. twice as long 
as the calyx. 

Common Cerastium. Mouse-ear Chickweed. 

Annual or Uennial. Steams 5-10 inches long. Leaves about half an inch long. 

2. C. visco'sum, L. Pubescent and clammy, leaves oblong ; sepals 
shorter than the pedicels ; capsule one half longer than the calyx. 
Clammy Cerastium. Larger Mouse-ear Chickweed. 

Perennial or Uennial. Stems 6 -lb inches long, spreading. Leaves )4 an inch to an 
inch long. 

Obs. Common in pastures and on the borders of fields ; both natives 
of Europe. In flower from May - July. 

5. STELLA'RTA, L. Chickweed. 

[Latin, Stella, a star ; from the star-like flowers.] 

Sepals 5. Petals 5, deeply 2-cleft. Stamens 10 or fewer. Styles 3-4. 
Capsule opening by twice as many valves as styles. Flowers white. 
1. S.me'dia, Smith. Stems procumbent, with an alternating pubescent 
line ; leaves ovate, the lower on hairy petioles ; petals shorter than tho 
calyx ; stamens 3-10. 
Middle Stellaria. Chickweed. 



60 



WEEDS a:sd useful plants. 



Annual or biennial. Stems 8-15 inches long, dichotomously 'braucliing Leaves }i an 
mch to an inch long. Peduncles axillary, l-flowered. 
Common. Native of Europe. 

Obs. This little plant, so common around dwellings, is found in 
almost_ every part of the world. It is exceedingly hardy, and may be 
found in flower even in the winter months ; wherever the snow melts 
away the little star-like flowers appear. During the warmer months the 
flowers are much less conspicuous, the ovary being usually fertilized 




without the flowers expanding. In damp cold soils it is sufficiently 
abundant to be troublesome, and sometimes occupies the soil to the 
exclusion of everything else. It is often given to canary and other cage 
birds. * 

6. SPER'GULA, L. Spurrey. 

[Name from the Latin, Spargo, to scatter.] 

Sepals 5. Petals 5, entire. Stamens 5-10. Styles 5. Capsw^e 5-valved, 
valves opposite the sepals. Seeds orbicular with a narrow margin. Low 
herbs with narrow whorled leaves and minute stipules. 
I. S. arvensis, L. Leaves linear and thread-like, many in a whorl ; 



Fig. 37 Chickweed (Stellaria media). 38. An enlarged flower. 33 A petal. 



PIXK FAiriLY. 



61 



stipules minute ; inflorescence loosely cymose ; pedicels reflexed in fruit 5 
seeds rough. 

Flsld Spergula. Corn Spurrey. Tares. 

Annual. *Sfe?n5 about a foot long, erect or spreading. Xeares 1-2 ino^ ^s long. Pedicels 
nearly an incti long, reflexed in fruit. Petals white, rather longer thaj tjie ovate sepals. 
Ckxpsule ab>^ut the size of a small pea. Seeds blackish. 

Fields. Native of Europe. May -Oct. 




O'.s. This is only known as a weed with us. In some parts of Europe 
it is cultivated as a forage plant ; cattle are said to be very fond of it, 
and sheep thrive remarkably well upon it. 



Fig. 40. Spurrey (Spergula arvensis). 



62 



■^EEDS AXD USEFUL PLAXTS. 



Order IX. PORTULACA'CE^. (Purslane Family.) 

Bucculent or fleshy herls. witli regular, unsrmmetrical, axillary or terminal, usually 
epliemeral/oife?-5. Calyz mostly of 2 sepals, often united below and adhering to the base 
the ovary. Petals 5, or rarely more numerous. Stamens variable in number, oppo- 
site the petals when of the same number. ^Sfi/Zes 2-8, united below. Capsule 1-celled ; 
placenta central. Seeds mostly numerous, curved : embryo coiled around mealy albumen. 

There are some 30 genera in the Order — of which the plant here noticed is the type. 
They are, however, of little or no interest to the farmer. 

1. PORTULA'CA, Tournef. Purslane. 

[A name of obscure and uncertain derivation.] 

Sepals 2, partly united, and adherent to the base of the orarv, — the 
upper portion finally circumscissed and deciduous. Petals mostly 5, in- 
serted on the calyx. Stamens 8-15 or 20. Stigmas 3-8." Cap- 
sule subglobose, circumscissed. Leaves scattered, often whoried near the 
flowers. 




1. P. olera'cea, L. Prostrate, smooth; leaves oblong-cuneate, obtuse, 
fleshy ; flowers sessile, opening only in the morning sun. 
Pot-herb Portulaca. Purslane. 

Fr. Pourpier potager. Germ. Gemeiner Portulak. Span. Yerdolaga. 

Root annual. Stem 6-12 or 15 inches long, fleshy, smooth, prostrate, branching and 
radicating. Leaves half an inch to an inch long, alternate and opposite. PetaU pale yellow.' 

Gardens and cultivated grounds. Native of Europe and India. J"Z. July -August. Fr. 
September. 

Ohs. This plant, though said to be indigenous in the /ar west, has 
every appearance of being a naturalized stranger with us. It was often 



Fig. 41. Purslane (Portulaca oleracea). 42. A pod, opening transversely. 



3IALL0W FAMILY. 



G3 



nsed formerly, as a pot-lierb ; but is now generally superseded by better 
ones. — and is, indeed, only entitled to notice, here, as a troublesome 
weed in gardens. P. grandiflora, P. Gillesii and others, having terete 
leaves, hairy axils and showy flowers are now common in gardens ; they 
are known in some places as " Wax Pinks they become quite perma- 
nently established where they are once introduced and will doubtless 
become weeds wherever they escape from cultivation. 



OederX. MALTA' CE.'E. (Mallow Family.) 

Herts or shrubs, with alternate, palmatelj'-veined leaves furnished -svith stipules. Floivers 
regular, mostly large, often with an involucel forming a double calyx. Calyx mostly of 

5 sepals, more or less united at base. Petals as many as the sepals, convolute in the 
bud. Stamens monadelphous, often indefinite ; anthers reniform, 1-celled. Styles as many 
as the carpels, distinct or united below. Fruit capsular, or the carpels separate or separa- 
ble. Seefh with little albumen ; cotyledons foliaceous, plicate and twisted. Mucilaginous 
plants with a tough bark. 

An Order comprising about 30 genera, and numerous sp&cies — some of them showy and 
handsome. They are generally remarkable for their mucilaginous and demulcent prop- 
erties : but the Cotton plant is preeminently interesting to the AmericaK people — ^both as 
yielding the great staple of the exports from the Southern States, and of the mamifacturei 
of the Xorthern States. There are, however, but few other plants of Agricultural im- 
portance belonging to the Order. 

1 1. Anthers at the top of the column of united filaments. Cells of the 
iruit united in a ring around a central axis from which they fall 
away when ripe. 

Involucel present. Carpels 1-seedod. 

Involucel 6-9-parted. Plant soft downy. 
Involucel 3-leaved. 
Involucel none. Carpels 1- several-seeded. 
Seeds one in each cell. 
Seeds 2-9 in each cell. 

6 2. Anthers along the sides of the upper part of the column of united 
nlaments. Pod of 3-5 cells, splitting into as many valves. 

Involucel of many thread-shaped leaves. 

Calyx splitting down one side when the flower opens. Pod 
long. 

Calyx not splitting down one side. Pod short. Seeds naked. 
Involucel of 3 heart-shaped, toothed leaves. Seeds bearing 
long wool. 



1. AiTa^. 

2. iLiLVA. 



SiDA. 

ABunLOX. 



5. ABEisioscnrjs. 

6. Hibiscus. 



7. GossYPiuir 



1. AIjTH>5]'A, L. Marsh-mallow. 

[Greekj AUho, to heal ; from its reputed virtues.] 

Involucel 6-9 cleft. Fruit depressed, consisting of numerous 1-seeded, 
round-kidney shaped, indehiscent carpels, arranged in a ring around a 
central axis. 

1. A. officinalis, L. Leaves ovate or somewhat heart-shaped, often 3-lobed, 
velvety ; peduncles axillary, many-flowered. 

Officinal Althaea. Marsh-mallow. 

Perennial. Root fusiform. Stem 2-4: feet high, erect. Leaves 2-4 inches Ions with 
petioles about half their length. Floivers pale rose color, sub-paniculate. 
Cultivated, and spontaneous in salt marshes. July -September. 

Obs. The Marsh-mallow is a native of Europe, and is sometime^) 



64 



WEEDS AND USEFUL PLANTS. 



cultivated ; it has become naturalized along the coast of NeA;Y England 
and Long Island. The whole plant, especially the root, contains a great 
deal of mucilage, and is employed by European physicians (or poultices 
and such purposes as Slippery Elm bark is used with us. Alth^a 
ROSEA is the common Hollyhock of the gardens, many varieties of which 
are cultivated for ornament. ^ 

2. MAL'YA, L. IVIallow. 

[Latinized from the Greek, Malaclie, soft ; in allusion to its emollient nature.] 
Invohicel of 3 oblong or setaceous bracts. Carpels several, dry, inde- 
hiscent, arranged in a circle round the axis, as in Althaea. 



45 




45 



1. M. rotuxdifo'lia, L. Stem herbaceous, prostrate ; leaves cordate- 
orbicular, obscurely lobed, crenate-toothed ; pedicels axillary, 1-flowered, 
declined in fruit. 

Round-leaved Malva. Running Mallows. Low Mallows. 

Fr. Petite Mauve. Germ. Rundblaettrige Malve. Span. Malva de 

hoja redonda. 

JRoot perennial. Stem 1 - 2 or 3 feet long, branching only at base or from the root. Leav^ " 
1-2 or 3 inches in diameter, obscurely 5-7-lobed ; petioles 2-6 or 8 inches long. Flowers 
small ; bracts linear, retals twice as long as the calyx, reddish white with purple veins. 

Yards, gardens and lots : introduced. Native of Europe. J'L May -September. Fr. 
July -October. 



Fig. 43. Common Mallow (Malva rotundifolia), a flower. 44. A leaf. 45. An enlarged 
flower with the petals removed to display the column of united stamens. 46. A ring of 
united carpels, forming the fruit and a separate caroel. 



MALLOW FAMILY. 



G5 



Obs. This foreigner is extensively naturalized ; and althougli some- 
what popular as an ingredient in cataplasms and demulcent drinks, ig 
generally regarded as an unwelcome intruder in yards and gardens. 
M. Sylvestns, L., with an erect branching stem, 2-3 feet high and much 
larger flowers, is naturalized in Western New York. The Curled Mai' 
low (M. crispa) is found in old gardens. 

3. SI'DA, L. SiDA. ' - 

[The ancient Greek name.] 

Involucel none. Calyx 5-cleft. Petals usually oblique. Styles 5 or more. 
Friut when ripe separating into as many 1-seeded carpels as there are 
styles, which usually become 2-Yalved at the summit and at length sepa- 
rate from the axis. Embryo bent with the radicle pointing upwards. 

1. S. spino'sa, L. Leaves ovate, lanceolate or oblong with a tubercle at 
the base of the petiole. 

SpIXOSE SIDA. 

Annual. Stem 10-18 inches long, low and branched. Leaves about 2 inches long, ser- 
rate, petioled. Peduncles axillary, solitary, 1-flowered, shorter than the petioles, articu- 
lated near the yellow flower. 

Road-sides and waste places ; more common southward. Native of India. July -August, 

4. ABU'TILOX, Tournef. Ixdiax-mallow. 

[A name supposed to be derived from the Arabs.] 

Carpels numerous, cohering and forming a compound capsule, spreading 
at the summit where each splits open along the inner edge, scarcely 
separating at maturity. Seeds 2 - 9 in each carpel. 

1. A. AvicenncB, Gaertn. Leaves orbicular-cordate, acuminate, crenate- 
dentate, velvety-tomentose ; peduncles axillary, shorter than the petiole. 

Avicexxa's Abutilox. Indian-mallow. Yelvet-leaf. 

Boot annual. Stera 2 - 4 or 5 feet high, branched, ieaves 4 - 6 or 8 inches long ; petioles 3 
-5 inches long. Petals yellow. Carpets 12-15, verticillately arranged in a flattened, 
somewhat bell-shaped head. 

Cultivated lots and waste places : introduced. Native of Europe and Asia. Fl. July 
-September. jPr. August- Ociober. 

Obs. This foreigner is a worthless and troublesome intruder — frequent 
in Indian-corn fields, Potato patches, and other cultivated lots — and is 
of a size sufficient to be a nuisance. It should be always carefully eradi- 
cated before it matures its seeds. 



C6 



WEEDS AND USEFUL PLANTS. 




5. ABELMOS'CHUS, Med. Okra. 

[Name said to be derivod from the Arabic, Hub-ool-mooshJc.} 

Calyx splitting down one side when the flower opens, deciduous. Pod 
elongated. Otherwise as in Hibiscus. 

1. A. esculen'tus, L. Herbaceous ; leaves somewhat obtusely and pal 
mately 5-lobed, cordate at base, the lobes dentate; fruit 10-angled, 
pyi-amidal. 

Esculent Abelmoschus. Okra. 

Root annual. Stem 18 inches to 3 feet high, somewhat branched, pilose but not aculeate. 
Leaves 3-6 inches long, and wider than long, lohed about half way to the base ; pdioM 
about as long as the leaves. Petals i^ale greenish yellow, with a dark purple spot at base. 
Capsule 2-3 inches long, erect. 

Gardens : cultivated. Native of India. Fl. August. Fr. September -October. 

Ohs. This plant is cultivated for its green pods or capsules — which 



Fig. 47. Velvet-leaf or Indian-mallow (Abutilon Avicennae), a branch reduced in sizp 
with fruit. 



MALLOW FA MILT. 



67 



are remarkably mucilaginous, aud much esteemed, by many persons, a3 
a table vegetable, and as an ingredient in soups. 

6. HIBIS'CUS, L. EosE-MALLow. 

[An ancient classical name, for one of the Mallow Family.] 
Calyx 5-cleft, persistent. Involucel of many linear bractlets. Column of 
stamens long, ^bearing anthers for much of its length. Styles united; 
stigmas 5, capitate- Fod 5- celled, opening into 5 valves which bear the 
partition on their middle. Herbs or shrubs with showy flowers. 

1. H. trio' mm, L. Upper leaves deeply 3-parted, lower ones toothed ; 
calyx inflated, membranaceous, with bristly-ribs, 5-wiuged at the summit. 
Three-lobed Hibisccs. Bladder Ketmia. Flower-of-an-hour. 

Annual. Stem 1-2 feet high, branched. Leaves 1 -'3 inches long, the lobes lanceolate, 
the middle one longest ; peiioled. Flowers greenish yellow with a purple spot at base, 
axillary, solitary, fugacious ; peduncles about as long as the petioles. Stigmas 5. 

Gardens and lots. Native of South Europe and Africa. July -September. 

Obs. Formerly cultivated in gardens, aud not rare as a weed in cul- 
tivated grounds. 

2. H. Syri'acus, L. Shrubby or tree-like ; leaves ovate-wedge-shaped, 
smooth, entire at the base, 3-lobed and toothed at the apex ; pedicels 
scarcely longer than the petioles ; involucel 6- 7-lobed. 

Syrian Hibiscus. Eose of Sharon. Shrubby Althaea. 

Obs. Very common in cultivation, where it is usually kept trimmed ; 
when allowed to grow uncut it forms a large tree-like shrub, with long 
straggling branches. The flowers are of various shades, from white to 
deep purple ; often becoming double. It is rather troublesome in 
grounds on account of the readiness with which it propagates itself by 
the seeds. 

V. GOSSYP'IUM, L. Cotton. 

[A name supposed to be of Egyptian origin ; etymology obscure.] 

Calyx cup-shaped, obtusely 5-toothed, surrounded by a 3-leaved involucel ; 
the leaflets united and cordate at base, deeply incised-dentate. Styles 
united ; stigmas 3 or sometimes 5. Capsule 3 - 5 -celled, loculicidal. Seeds 
numerous, enveloped in a long flne wool. Young branches and leaves more 
or less covered with black dots ; the nerves beneath usually with one or 
more glands. 

1. G. herba'ceum, L. Stem smooth ; leaves 3-5-lobed, with a single 
gland beneath ; lobes rounded, mucronate ; involucel serrate ; wool white. 
Herbaceous Gossypium. Cotton. Cotton-plant. 
Fr. Le Cottonnier. Germ. Die Baumwolle. Span. Algodon. 

Root annual. Stem 2-4 feet high, branched. Leaves 3-5 or 6 inches long ; petioles 2-3 
inches long. Petals greenish yellow, tinged with purple at base. Seeds large, thickly 
beset with long wool-like cellular or tubular fibres, which, at maturity, are shrunk and 
contorted so as to render them in some degree adhesive, when pressed together, — and 
thereby susceptible of being spun or drawn and twisted into delicate threads. 

Cultivated very largely in the Southern and South-western States. Native of Asia. 



68 



USEFUL WEEDS AXD PLANTS. 



0^5. This plant — as yielding the material for light clothing, and 
especially in reference to its commercial value — may be regarded as one 
of the most important objects of American Agriculture. Although not 
so essential as the cereal tribe, the fibrous envelope of the seeds is scarcely 
less interesting, as an article of trade, and as the subject of useful and 
ingenious industry. 

Order XI. TILIA'CE^. (Lixdex Family.) 

Trees or shrubs having the mucilaginous quahties and tough inner bark of the Mallow 
Family, alternate leaves with deciduous stipules and small axillary ^oz/je?-s. Sepals valvate 
in the bud, deciduous. Petals imbricated in the bud. Stamens usually in clusters; 
anthers 2-celled. Seeds albuminous. 

The Lindens are the only representatives of this order in the United States. Corchorus 
capsularis of India furnishes the fibre from which the Gunny-iags of commerce are 
made. 

1. TIL'IA, L. LixDEX. 

[The classical Latin name.] 

Sepal 5, connected at base. Petals 5. Stamens numerous, more or less 
cohering in 5 parcels, the central one of each parcel — in the Korth 
American species — cohering with the base of a petaloid scale, opposite 
to the real petals. Ovary 5-celled ; cells with 2 ovules. Fruit coriaceous 
or woody, globose, by abortion 1-celled, 1 - 2-seeded. Trees with sub- 
cordate serrate leaves, and a tough, fibrous bark. Flowers in pendulous 
cymes, with the lower half of the common peduncle adnate to a long 
membrauo-foliaceous bract. 

1. T. Europ^'a, L. Leaves orbicular-cordate, acuminate, puberulent 
beneath ; flowers without petaloid scales. 

EuROPEAX TiiAA. Linden, or Lime tree. European Linden. 
Fr. Le Tilleul. Germ. Die Linde. Span. Tilo. 

stem 20-40 or 50 feet high, and 1-2 feet in diameter, the numerous branches forming 
a handsome symmetrical top. ieaues 3 - 5 inches long ; petiolesl-2 inches long. Flowers 
yellowish white . 

Cultivated. Native of Europe. JPZ. Beginning of June. i^/. Sept. -Oct. 

Obs. This foreign species has been extensively introduced as an orna- 
mental shade tree in our cities and villages. In the beginning of summer 
it is handsome, but the leaves begin to die or become diseased, assuming 
a scorched appearance, soon after midsummer ; and the tree is, more- 
over, infested by so many loathsome and destructive insects, that it is 
now being superseded by others less subject to such accidents. The 
flowers are said to afford to bees a superior quality of honey. 

2. T. America'na, L. Xeaves obliquely heart-shaped, or truncate at 
base, abruptly acuminate, thickish, smooth, or nearly so ; flowers with 
petaloid scales, connected with the filaments. 

American Tilia. Linden, or Linn. Basswood. White wood. 

stem 40-60 or 80 feet high, and 2-3 feet in diameter, with spreading branches, leavet 



BEAD-TEZE FA^LY. 



69 



3-6 inclies long, unequal at base ;. petioles 1-2 inches long. Floioers yellowish -white or 
cream-colored . 

Rich woodlands ani banks of streams ; along the mountains, from Canada to Georgia. 
Fl. Latter end of Jane. Fr. S?pt.-Oct. 

Ohs. A variety of this species (var. pubescens, Gray?) has the often 
thin leaves softly pubescent beneath. This form is common south and 
west, as well as the White Basswood (T. Heteroph'ylla, Vent.), which has 
very large leaves, sometimes 8 inches broad, silvery- white, with fine 
down beneath. The wood of all the Lindens, commonly known as Bass- 
wood, is light, soft and white, and is used for making boxes, bowls and 
other domestic utensils, for the panels of wagons, bottoms of drawers, 
&c. The inner bark, hast or hass, consists of long, tough fibres, and by 
soaking in water, readily separates into layers. That of the European 
species furnishes the matting, which forms an important item in the 
products of Eussia. It is much used by gardeners for protecting tender 
plants from frost, and furnishes them the best material for tying up 
shrubs, and for binding up the wound made in the operation of budding. 
The gardeners of the Western States, it is said, obtain their supply of 
bast from our American species. T. Ameeicaxa is sometimes planted 
as a shade tree. Its branches are more spreading than those of the 
European species, and its whole appearance is less symmetrical, more- 
over, it is, like that, liable to be infested by insects. * 

Okder XII. MELIA'CEJE. (Bead-tree Family.) 

Trees or sTiriibs, with alternate, usually compound leav^ destitute of stipules. CaXi/x of 
3-5 sepals more or less connected. Pdah3-b. Stamens twice as many as the petals, 
monadelphous , inserted outside of a hypogynous disk; anthers sessile in the orifice of 
the tube of filaments. Oi-ary several-celled, with 1-2 ovules in each cell ; styles und stigmas 
mostly united into one. Fruit a drupe, berry, or capsule, often 1-celled by abortion, and 
the ce'll 1-seeded. Seeds with little or no albumen, and wingless. 

The genus which represents this Order is the onlj" one belonging to it which is much 
known in our country, and that is pretty much confined to the States south of the 
Potomac. 

1. ME'LIA, L, Pride of India. 

[The Greek name of a species of Ash, which this tree resembles.] 

Calyx small, 5-cleft. Petals 5, linear-oblong, spreading. Stamen-tube 
10-cleft at summit, with 10 anthers in the orifice ; segments of the tube 
2-3-parted. Ovary seated on a slightly elevated disk ; style filiform ; 
stigma capitate, 5-angled. Drupe ovoid,, with a 5-celled bony nut ; cells 1- 
seeded. Embryo inclosed in thin fleshy albumen ; cotyledons flat, foliace- 
ous. Trees with odd-pinnate or bipinnate leaves, blowers in axillary 
panicles. 

1. M. Azeda'rach, L. Leaves bipinnate ; leaflets somewhat in fiv^, 
obliquely ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, incised-dentate, smooth. 
Pride of India. Bead-tree. 
^ Fr. Arbre aux patenotres. Germ. Dev Zederach. 

stem 20 - 40 feet high, and 1-2 or 3 feet in diameter, with branches clustered at irreg- 
oiar intervals. Leaves deciduous ; leaflets 1-2 or 3 inches long, forming secondary jnn- 



70 



WEEDS AND USEFUL PLA]S"TS. 



nee of 2-3 pairs, with a terminal odd one. Flowers pale violet-purplo or lilac-colored 
Dri'pe with a soft 3^ellowish pulp, and an obtusely angular nut. 
Cultivated. Native of Sj-ria, Persia, and the far East. Fl. April. Fr. Sept. -Oct. 

Obs. This tree has been introduced into the Southern States as an 
ornamental shade tree, and is now perfectly naturalized thei'e and west 
to Arkansas. It will not endure the winters of Pennsylvania. The 
most northern point at which I have seen trees of any considerable size, 
was Norfolk, Virginia, and even there they are sometimes killed by frost. 
The bark of the root is reputed to be a good vermifuge. In the south 
of Europe, the nuts are often used for beads ; whence one of its English 
and French names. 

Okdeu XIII. LINA'CE^. Family.) 

Herhs with alternate or opposite leaves, without stipules, and regular hypogynous flowers, 
with all the parts in fives. Calyx imbricated and petals convolute in the bnd. Stamens 
united at the base into a ring. CopsuZe globose, with twice as many 1-sceded ceUs as 
there are styles. 

An order pretty much hmited to the important genus which is its type. 

1. LI'NUM, L. Flax. 

[The classical name for the plant.] 

Capsule of 5 united carpels, each 2-seeded, but divided into 2 single- 
seeded cells by a false partition, projecting from the back of the carpels, 
1. L. usiTATis'siMUM, L. Leavcs alternate, 
lance-linear, very acute ; flowers on long 
pedicels ; capsules globose, mucronat-e. 
Most Useful (or common) Linum. Flax. 
Fr. Lin. Germ. Gemeiner Flachs. Span, 
Lino. 

Root annual. Stan 2-3 feet high, slender, terete, 
smooth, corymbosely branched at summit. Leaves an 
inch to an inch and a half long. Petals rather large, 
blue, often with a tinge of purple, very caducous. Seeds 
lance-ovate, smooth and shining. 

Cultivated, and occasionally spontaneous in cultivated 
grounds. Native of Europe. Fl. June. Fr. July. 

Obs. This valuable plant — once considered 
so indispensable among the crops of our 
farmers — is now but little cultivated. I hava 
not seen a flax-patch for a number of years : 
whereas, in the "good old times" — before 
Spinning-wheels were superseded by Pianos— 
every rural family cultivated and manufac- 
tured as much flax as was required for do- 
mestic purposes. But now, the Cotton-plant 
48 of the South has nearly banished the Flax- 

plant from the Middle and Northern States. 
Nor is the revolution thus efiected a subject of regret, with the farmer. 




Fig 48. Flax ("Linum usitatissimum), reduced. 



GERANIUM FAMILY. 



TLc fiaz crop is ?ne which involves a good deal of troublesome, uisa- 
^reeable labor, and, -vrithoiit being profitable, is generally believed to be 
jnjurious to the soil : an opinion as old as the time of Virgil — who says 

" Urit enim Lini campum seges, urit avense.'" — Georg. 1. 71. 

or, as rendered by Sotheby, 

" Oats and the Flaxen harvest burn the ground." 

Tiie seeds of this plant — besides yielding a most valuable drying oil, used 
in painting — afford one of the best mucilaginous drinks, for coughs, and 
dysenteric affections. 

Oeder XIY. GERANIA'CE^. (Geranium Family.) 

Mostly herbs with symmetrical, hypogynous, pentamerous Jlovxrs. Sepals imbricated. 
Petals convolute. Stamens 10, slightly monadelphous at base, the alternate ones shorter. 
Pistils 5, adhering to a central prolonged axis, from which they separate at maturity by 
curling up and carrying with them the small 1-seeded pods. Seeds vvithout albumen. 
Herbs, or sometimes shrubby plants with opposite or alternate, stipulate, scented leaves 
and astringent roots. 

The ornamental half-shrubby plants so common in collections of green-house plants 
and usually called Geraniums, belong to tlie genus Pelargo^ticm. 

1. GERA'NIUM, L. Ceanes-bill. 

[Greek, Geranos, a crane ; the beaked fruit resembling a crane's bill.] 

Stamens all perfect, the 5 longer ones with glands at base. Styks co- 
hering at the summit, recurved from below, but not twisted, in the ripe 
fruit ; smooth inside. 

L G. macula'tum, L. Stem erect, dichotomous above ; leaves 3-5- 
parted ; petals entire, twice as long as the calyx. 
Spotted Geranium. Cranes-bill. 

Perennial. Stem 12-18 inches high, hairj". Leaves 2-3 inches long, the divisions lobed 
and cut at the end, blotched with whitish as they grow old, the radical on petioles 3-6 or 
8 inches in length, those of the stem on much shorter petioles and the upper ones subses- 
sile. Flov:ers purple, large, somewhat corymbose. Petals bearded on the claw. 

Woods and along fences, common. April -July. 

Ohs. This plant is not troublesome as a weed, but is introduced here 
on account of its valuable medicinal properties ; it being one of the 
best astringents used in medicine — equalling in importance any of the 
imported articles of that class — the agriculturist ought to be able to 
identify it. The thick, fleshy root, or rather rhizoma, which should be 
collected in autumn, is powerfully astringent, without bitterness or un- 
pleasant taste, and is useful in diarrhoea and other diseases where a 
medicine of this kind is required. Boiled in water and mixed with sugar 
and milk, it is easily administered to children. G. Caroluiian'Tim, L., 
a native species, and G. pusUlum, an introduced one, are annual species, 
and common in waste places. Er odium cicutdrium, L., (which has the 
5 shorter stamens sterile, and the styles, in fruit, twisting spirally,) is 
naturalized sparingly in the Atlantic States, but in California and 
Oregon it has taken complete possession of large tracts; it is there 
known as " pin weed." 



72 



WEEDS AXD USEFUL PLAN'j.S. 




Order XV. OXALIDA'CEJE. (Wood-sorrel Family.) 

Herbs with sour juice and alternate compound leaves. Flmvers regular nearly as in Ger&ni. 
um — but the styles separate, and the fruit a 5-celled several-seeded capsule. 

1. OX' ALTS, L. Wood-sorrel. 

[Greek, oxijs, sharp or sour.] 

Petals withering after expansion. Capsule membranaceons, deeply, 
5-lobed, 5-celled, each cell opening on the back. Seeds pendulous from 
the axis, their outer coat loose and separating. Embryo large and 
straight in a fleshy albumen. Leaves of 3 obcordate leaflets, which close 
and droop at nightfall, — the radical ones stipulate. 



Fig. 49. Cranes-bill (Geranium maculatum), a flowering summit. 50. A ripe fruit 
enlarged, showing the carpels separating from the axis. 



IJ^DIAX-CllESS FAMILY. 



73 



0. stric'ta, L. Caulescent: stem mostly erect, branched and leafy; 
peduncles axillary, longer than the petioles. 

Upright Oxalis. Wood-sorrel. Tellow Wood-sorrel. 

Perennial ? Stem 3 inches to near 2 feet high, more or less pabescent, often bushy, and 
sometimes nearly prostrate. Leaflds one fourth of an inch to an inch long. Peduncles 
2" 5 inches long, with 2-10 y9\\o\Y flowers. 

Fields and cultivated grounds. May -September. 

Ohs. The leaves of this very common plant have an agreeable acidity, 
and are frequently eaten by children. Another species is cultivated, 
especially in Europe, as a culinary herb. The juice of the various 
species contains a salt (Binoxalate of Potash) which, under the name 
of Salts of Sorrel, was formerly much used for removing ink-stains and 
spots of iron-rust from linen. * 



Okder XVI. TEOP^OLA'CE^. (Indian-cress Family.) 

Herbs with a pungent, watery juice, a straggling or twining stem, alternate petiolate pel- 
tate or palmate leaves with radiating nerves, and without stipules. Flowers irregular, 
large on long axillary peduncles. Fruit 3-lobed, composed of 3 anitod carpels, which are 
1-seeded, indehiscent, and separate from the common axis when mature. Seeds without 
albumen, large ; cotyledons thicli, distinct when young, finaUy consohdated or soldered 
together. 

A very small Order, and of little interest beyond the genus which represents it. 

1. TEOP.^'OLUM, L. Nasturtium. 

[Latin, a little banner, or Trophy ; from a fancied similitude in the plant.] 

Calyx colored, 5-parted ; the upper segment spurred at the base. 
Petals 5, unequal ; the upper two sessile, the others clawed. Stamens 8. 
Stigmas 2. 

1. T. ma'juS, L. Leaves peltate, sub-orbicular, obscurely repand-lobed, 

the nerves not exserted ; petals obtuse. 

Greater Trop^olum. Nasturtium. Indian-cress. 

Fr. Grande Capucine. Germ. Die Kapuziner kresse. Span. Capuchina. 

Root annual. Stem 8-6 or 8 feet long, fleshy, smooth. Leaves 2-3 inches in diameter 
tne nerves which radiate from the centre not projecting beyond the margin (as they do 
in another species) ; petioles 3-6 inches long. Peduncles 1-flowered. mostly longer than 

the petioles. Petals yellowish or reddish orange, with dark purple stripes and spots the 

three lower ones fringed at base. Carpels sulcate, fleshy, fiaally suberose or coriaceous. 

Gardens. Cultivated. Native of South America. J"?. June -September. Fr Auo-ust- 
October. 

Ohs. This ornamental stranger is sometimes cultivated for show ; but 
chiefly for the young fruit — which is prepared as a condiment, and af- 
fords a tolerable substitute for capers. The plant is said to be perennial 
in its native country (Peru), whence it was brought to Europe in the 
year 1684. 

4 



74 



WEEDS AND USEFUL PLAXTS. 



Order XYIL EUTA'CE^. (Rue Family.) 

flerfc, shrubs or trees, with simple or compound leaves, punctate with pellucid dots contain- 
ing a pungent, volatile oil (except in Ailanthus, a doubtful member of the Order.) and per- 
fect, poh'gamous or dioecious, hypogynous, regular, 3 - 5-merous ^ife?'S. Stamens tmcs 
as man J" as the sepals ; pistils 2-5 separate or combined into a compound ovary of ag 
many cells, raised on a prolongation of the receptacle or fleshy disk ; styles sometimes co- 
hering when the ovaries are distinct. 

1. EU'TA, L. EuE. 

[Xame of doubtful derivation.] 

Flowers perfect. Sepals and petals 4 (rarely 3-5). Stamens twice as 
many as the sepals, with a gland at base. Style 1. Capsule roundish, 
lobed. Seeds albuminous. Herbs, sometimes suffruticose, with alternate 
leaves and yellow flowers. 




1. E. grave'olens, L. Leaves decompound ; lobes oblong, the termmal 
one obovate ; petals entire or somewhat toothed. 
Heavy-smelling Eijta. Eue. Garden-rue. 

Perennial. Stem bushy 2-3 feet high, woody at base, the branches smooth, yellowish 
green. Leaves dotted, glaucous or bluish green. Flowers in terminal corymbose panicles, - 
pale greenish. yellow ; the first one which unfolds has 5 sepals and petals, and 10 stamens, 
while the succeeding ones have onl^' 8 stamens and 4 sepals and petals. Pod roundish, 
warty, 4-5-lobcd. The stamens approach in turns towards the pistil, and after the an- 
thers have shed their pollen, retire. 

Native of Southern Europe. Cult. June - Sept. 

0^5. The Garden-rue, as it is commonly called, probably to distinguish 



Fig. 5] . Rue (Ruta graveolens), a flowering branch. ' 52, A fruit of the same. 



EUE FAMILY. 



75 



it from Meadow-rne, is freqiieiitly found m old gardens, wlnere it is culti- 
vated as a medicinal herb. The plant is very acrid, and -when handled 
sometimes irritates or even blisters the skin, and to some persons it is 
highly poisonous. Its properties are stimulant and narcotic, and though 
sometimes used in domestic practice, in cholic, hysterics, &c., it is 
altogether too dangerous a plant to be employed unadvisedly. Its oil 
is a powerful poison. The plant was much used by the ancients, who 
ascribed wonderful yirtues to it ; they had the idea that stolen Rue 
flourished the best. At one time it was employed to sprinkle the holy 
water in the ceremonies of the Roman Catholic church, which is per- 
haps the reason of Ophelia's saying : " We may call it herb of grace, o' 
Sundays.'' ^ 

2. ZANTHOX'TLUM, Colden. Pkickly Ash. 

[Greek, ZarUhos, yellow, and Xylon, T.-ood.] 

Flowers dioecious. Sepals 5, or wanting in one species. Petals 4-5, 
imbricated. Stamens 4-5 in the sterile flowers, alternate with the 
petals. Pistils 2-5, separate, but their styles conniving or slightly 
united. Pods thick and fleshy, 2-valved when ripe, 1 - 2-seeded. Seed- 




coat crustaceous, black, smooth and shining. Embryo straight, with 
broad cotyledons. Shrubs or trees with mostly pinnate leaves; the 
stems and often the leafstalks prickly. Flcwers small, greenish or 
white. 



1. Z. American'mri, Mill, Leaves and flowers in axillary clusters ; 



Fig. 53. Prickly Ash (Zanthoxylum Americanum), portion of a pistillate specimen in 
flower, the leaves rcot fully developed. 54. An enlarged staminate flower. 55. ^ 
enlarged plsti-llate flower. 



76 



WEEDS AXD USEFUL PLA^sTS. 



leaflets in 4 - 5 pairs and an odd one ; calyx none ; petals 5 ; pistils 
3 - 5 ; pod short stalked ; flowers appearing with the leaves. 

Ameeican Zaisthoxylum. Northern Prickly Ash. Toothache Tree 
Yellow Wood. 

Shrub 4-8 feet liigh. St&ns prickly, the stronger prickles mostly in pairs at the base of 
the leaves. Leaflets 1-2 inches long, downy when j^oung, becoming smooth above when 
old. Flowers sometimes polygamous. Pods about the size of a pepper-corn, with a 
brown or reddish tinge, pitted, fragrant with a lemon-like odor when rubbed. Seed 
solitary. 

Kiver banks and rocky woods, north and west. April -May. 

Ohs. In its wild state this shrub forms low thickets, but when cul- 
tivated and trimmed it forms a small tree sometimes 20 feet high. It 
has been proposed as a hedge plant, but we are not aware that any 
experiments have been made to test its value for this purpose. All 
parts of the plant are aromatic, and the bark is used in medicine ; this 
when chewed has a sweetish aromatic taste which becomes bitter and 
acrid, causing a flow of saliva ; it has been used for the tooth-ache, 
whence one of its popular names. An infusion is used in domestic 
medicine, in the treatment of rheumatism and in cholic, &c. 

2. Z. Carolmian'um, Lam. Leaflets 3-5 pairs and an odd one, ovate 
lanceolate, inequilateral, shining above ; flowers in terminal cymes, ap- 
pearing after the leaves ; sepals and petals 5 ; pistils 3 ; pods sessile ; 
prickles very sharp. 

Caeolina Zaxthoxylum. Southern Prickly Ash. 

Shrub or small ti'ee 6-20 feet high and 6-10 inches in diameter. Grows in sandy soil along 
the sea coasts of the Southern States. Properties similar to the preceding. 

3. AIL AN 'THUS, Desf. 

[From Ailanto, the name it bears m its native country.] 

Calyx 5-toothed. Petals 5, inserted with the 10 stamens under a hypo- 
gynous disk. Carpels 3-5, samaroid, tumid in the centre, 1-celled, 
1-seeded. Stigmas capitate, radiately 5-lobed. Flowers dioeciously 
polygamous. 

1. A. GLANDULo'sA, Des/'. Lcavcs odd-piunate ; leaflets oblong-lanceolate, 
acuminate, coarsely dentate at base, with a gland on the under side of 
each tooth. 

Glandulae Ailanthus. Chinese Sumach. Tree of Heaven. Tillow 
or Tallow Tree. 

stem 30-60 feet or more high, much branched, young branches never multiplying during 
growth but developed only from the buds of the proceeding year. Leaves (on young trees 
especially) much elongated and consisting of many pairs (15-20) of smooth leaflets, which 
are 3-5 inches in length and entire, except a pair or two of coarse teeth at base. Flowers 
pale greenish yellow, in terminal open thyrsoia panicles. 

Cultivated as a shade tree. Native of China. iJ'L June. i^-. Sept. -Oct. 

Obs. Perhaps no tree has been the subject of as much newspaper 
discussion as the Ailanthus, and there is much to be said for and against 



CASHEW FAMILY. 



77 



its cultivation as a shade tree. It has in its favor a graceful habit, ia 
cleauly and quite free from insects, gives a tolerable shade and is perfectly 
hardy, gi'owing where almost any other would not survive. The objec- 
tions to it are, the disagreeable odor it emits when in flower, and the 
readiness with which it multiplies itself by suckers and by seeds. The 
odor, which is really offensive in sultry weather, is emitted by the stami- 
nate flowers, but as the tree is not perfectly dioecious, the pistillate ones 
producing more or less staminate flowers, the difiiculty could not be 
obviated by cutting down the sterile trees, there being no means of dis- 
tinguishing them while young. In streets the rapid multiplication is 
not so much of an objection as where the tree is cultivated in open 
gi'ounds, though even here the seed will germinate wherever it can come 
in contact wilh the earth. The young plants spring up between bricks 
and flag-stones, in areas and small grass plots, and even on window-caps 
and in crevices in the walls of buildings ; and in parks the multitude of 
seedlings becomes an absolute nuisance. Still, notwithstanding all these 
disadvantages, there is no tree so generally employed in the city of New 
York as a shade tree, where it attracts the eye of the stranger by the 
tropical aspect of its foliage and the large massy bunches of ripening 
fruit, which are variously tinged with red or brownish. The tree has 
been recommended for cultivation on prairie lands and others where 
there is a scarcity of timber for fencing material. As far as rapidity of 
growth is concerned, it is certainly admirably adapted to this use, but 
it is not known whether the timber would be sufficiently durable. The 
wood, though brittle, is very hard and takes a good polish. * 

Order XVIIL ANACARDIA'CEJG. (Cashew Family.) 

Trees or shrubs, with a resinous or milky, often acrid juice, which turns black in drying, 
alternate dotless leaves without stipules and small, often polygamous, regular pentandrous 
flou-ers. Petals imbricated in the bud. Ovary l-celled (by' abortion), but with 3 styles or 
Btigmas, and a single ovule. Fruit indchiscent, usually drupaceous. Seed without albu- 
men ; embryo curved. 

In the tropical regions, this Family presents plants of much interest : such as that 
which yields the celebrated Mango fruit (Mangifera Indica,L.) — the Casnew nut (Anacar- 
dium occidentale, L.) and the I'istacia nut (Fistacia vera L.) ; with others which afford 
various kinds of Lacquer and Varnish. A species of Rhus (R. Cotinus, L.) affords the 
" young Fustic," of commerce — the " old Fustic," being the wood of Morus tinctoria, L. 
The Chian or Cyprus Turpentine is obtained from the Pistacia Terebinthus, L. 

1. EHUS', L. Sumach. 

[Greek, Rlwus,—ov Celtic Ehudd^—veA ; the prevailing color of the fruit.] 

Sepals 5, connected at base, persistent. Petals 5, ovate, spreading, and 
with the stamens inserted under the margin of an orbicular disk. Drupe 
small, nearly or quite dry; nut bony, l-celled. Polygamo-dioecioug 
shrubs or small trees. Leaves sometimes simple, mostly compound (odd« 
pinnate or trifoliolate) ; common petiole enlarged at the base and cover 
ing the buds of the ensuing year.- 

* Leaves odd-pinnate. 
f Young branches densely hairy. 



78 



WEEDS AXD USEFUL PLANTS. 



1. E.. typhi'na, L. Young branches and petioles densely villous 
leaflets in many pairs, acutely serrate, glaucous and somewhat pilose 
beneath ; drupes densely pubescent. 

Typha-like Ehus. Staghorn Sumach. 

Lactescent. Stem 10-15 or 20 feet high, and sometimes 4 - 6 Inches in diameter, branched 
Leaves composed of 8-15 or 20 pairs of lance-ohlong leaflets (2-4 inches in length) ; com- 
mon petioles 1-2 feet long. Flowers yellowish-green, in thyrsoid panicles, — the feHile 
panicles smaller and more compact. Ovaries clothed with a long greyish velvety pu- 
bescence — which on the fmit becomes a bright purple, and sharply acid. 

Woodlands and banks of streams : Canada to Louisiana. 2^Z. June. i^V. September - 
Ctotober. 

Obs. This is the largest and handsomest species of the genus — as seen 
in the Middle States. The fine purple clusters of fruit, on the fertile 
plant, render it quite ornamental ; and, if introduced into the yards and 
public squares of our cities, would present an almost literal exemplifi- 
cation of the much-admired jR (h) us in urhe ! Its roots, however, are 
rather troublesome in sending up suckers. 

ff Young hrancJies downy-pubescent. 

2. copalli'na, L. Common petiole winged ; leaflets oblong or ovate- 
lanceolate, nearly entire. 

Copal Rhus. Dwarf Sumach. 

.Tutce resinous. 5'te?n 3-8 feet high, branched, iea/efe 1 - 3 inches long, usually 4-10 
pairs with a terminal one, subcoriaceous, shining above. Flowers yellowish-green in ter- 
minal thyrsoid panicles. Fruit densely pubescent, finahy dark purple and acid. 

Dry hills, frequent. Fl July. Fr. October. 

0^5. A very neat s'pecies, with very variable leaflets, which are some- 
times coarsely and unequally serrate. 

fft Young branches smooth. 




3. E. gla'bra, L. Branches and petioles glabrous ; leaflets in many^ 
pairs, 'serrate, smooth on both sides, glaucous beneath. 
Glabrous Rhus. Common or Smooth Sumach. 

Juice copiously milky. Stem 3-8 or 10 feet high, irregularly branching; young 



Fig 56. Smooth Sumach (Rhus glabra), a star linate flower. 57. A pistillate flower. 68, 
The same divided, all much enlarged. 



CASHEW FAMILY. 



19 



Branches stout and thick, with a large pith, somewhat angul-ar or compressed. Leaves 
composed of 8-12 or 15 pairs of leaflets (2-3 or 4 inches in length); common peliole 9-18 
inches long, often dark purple. Flowers yellowish-green ; the fertile panicles smaller 
and more compact than the sterile ones. Ovaries clothed with a short greyish silky pa- 
bescence, which on Ihe fruit becomes bright purple, and contains a sprightly acid. 

Old fields, fence-rows, and thickets : Canada to Louisiana. Fl. June. September 
-October. 

Obs. This shrub is apt to be abundant in neglected sterile old fields ; 
and its prevalence, in arable lauds, is strong evidence of the occupant 
being a poor thriftless farmer. 




A-H- 

4. R. venena'ta, DC. Branches and petioles smooth ; leaflets in 
few pairs, very entire ; common petioles not winged ; fruit glabrous. 

Poisonous Rhus. Poison Sumach. Poison Elder. Swamp Dogwood. 

Ji*ice resinous. ^fem8-12orlo feet high, branching above, young branches rather 
cknder, terete, smoothish, slightly verrucose or dotted. Leaves composed of 3-5 or 6 
pairs of leaflets (2 - 3 or 4 inches long) ; common petioles 4 - 10 or 12 inches long. Flowers 
greenish. Panicles slender, racemose, on long axillary peduncles. Drupes dry, smooth 
and shining, nearly twice as large as in either of the preceding. 

Low grounds along swampy rivulets : Canada to Georgia. Fl. June. Fr. September. 



Fig. 59. Poison Sumach (Rhus venenata), a portion of a fiowering branch, reduced 



80 WEEDS AND USEFUL PLANTS. 

Obs. This was formerly supposed to be identical with the oriental 
species which yields the Japan Varnish. It is a shrub to be carefully 
extirpated from the farm ; as it is not only worthless, but exceedingly 
poisonous to many persons, if they come in contact with it — or even get 
unawares in its immediate vicinity. 

** Leaves trifoliolate. 




§. Toxicoden'dron, L. Stem erect, decumbent, or climbing by 
rootlets ; leaflets in threes, obliquely ovate or rhomboid, acuminate ; 
fruit glabrous. 

PoisoN-TREE Rhus. Poison-vine. Poison-oak. Poison-ivy. 

Not lactescent. In the erect variety, stem 2 - 5 or 6 feet high ; Tmjlets larger (4 - 6 or 8 inches 
long), variously or coarsely toothed or lobed ; in the more common climMng variety, stem 
8 or 10-30 or 40 feet long, branching, climbing and closely adhering to trees and other 
objects by means of numerous rootlets ; leaflets smaller and more commonly entire than 
in the other variety : thin or somewhat membranaceous in both. Flowers yellowish-green. 



Fig. 60. Poison Ivy (Rus Toxicodendron), reduced. 



YIXE FAMILY. 



81 



Panicles slender, raccmoso, on short axillary peduncles. Drupes about the size of those in 
the preceding species, dry, smooth, and shining, pale brown. 

Woodlands and old fence-rows : Canada to Georgia, and the Rocky Mountains. Fl. 
May-June. Fr. September. 

Obs. This species is also poisonous, — and should not only be known 
to the farmer, but diligently expelled from his premises. There are 
several other species of Rhus in the United States, — interesting to the 
Botanist — as all plants are, — but not immediately so to the practical 
Agriculturist. The Venetian Sumach (R. Cotinus) is often seen in 
cultivation a^ an ornamental shrub. The flowers are mostly abortive 
and the slender very hairy pedicels remain after flowering, increasing 
in length and making large light bunches, giving such a peculiar ap- 
pearance to the shrub that it has received the popular name of " Smoke 
Tree." The leaves of this and other European species furnish the 
Sumach of commerce, which is imported for use in dyeing and calico- 
printiag and for tanning morocco leather. The leaves of E.. glabra, E,. 
typhina acd perhaps others of our native species are used for the same 
purposes. Doct. Darlington has in his garden, at Westchester, a re- 
markable variety of K. glabra, in which the leaves are more or less 
comp'etely bipinnate ; it was found in Chester County, and is worthy 
of being propagated by the curious in such matters. # 

Order XIX. YITA'CEvE. {Vine Family.) 

Shrulhy plants, generally -with a loose stringy bark, and stems climbing by tendrils ; 
simple or compound Zeai'&s opposite the racemes which are sometimes partly or wholly 
changed into tendrils. Flowers mostly in compound racemes, often polygamous or 
dioecious, small, greenish. Calyx very small, entire, or 4-5 toothed, hned with a perigy- 
nous disk. Fetals 4-5, valvate in ajstivation, sometimes cohering by the tips, caducous. 
Stamens as many as the petals, and opposite them. Ovary 2-celled, w^ith 2 erect collateral 
ovules in each cell. Fruit a berry. Seeds with a bony testa; embryo much shorter than 
the horny or fleshy albumen. 

1. YI'TIS, L. Grape. 

[The ancient Latin name of the vine.] 

Calyx obsoletely 5-toothed, lined with a fleshy disk which bears the 
stamens and pistils. Petals 5, cohering at apex and speedily falling off 
(pushed off by the stamens). Stigma subsessile, obtuse. Berry 2-3- 
celled, 4-seeded, — some of the cells and seeds often abortive. Perennial 
climbing shrubs. 

* Flowers perfect ( Foreign species ) 
1. V. vlvif'era, L. Leaves lobed, sinuate-dentate, glabrous or to- 
mcntose ; fruit of various sizes and colors. 
WiNE-PRODUciNG YiTis. Wine Grape. Foreign Grape, &c. 
Fr. La Yigne. Germ. Der Weinstock. Span. La Yid. 

stem 10-20 feet or more in length (but usually kept shorter by lopping.) Leaves more 
or less lobed and dentate, generally smaller than in our native spr-cies, sometimes very 
glabrous and shining. Berries often large, of various forms and colors. 

Cultivated. Native of Southern Asia, Fl. }\mQ. JV. August -September. 

Obs. Many varieties (with names as numerous) of this plant have been 



82 



WEEDS AXD USEFUT- PLANTS. 



produced by long culture in different soils, — and a number of them ^ 
cultivated in the United States, for their delightful fruit ; but the pro- 
duct is rather uncertain, in this climate, without great care and atten- 
tion. The excellence of the fruit of the Yine — whether fresh, or dried 
and preserved in the state of Eaisins — is universally known and appre- 
ciated ; while the fermented juice of the Grape has been the theme of 
eulogy and song (and the excessive use of it, the cause of infinite mis- 
chief), from the earliest ages down to the establishment of Temperance 
Societies, in the present day. The Currants, of commerce (Corintbg, or 
Grapes of Corinth) — often called Zaute Currants — are believed to be a 
small-fruited, nearly seedless variety of this, — or perhaps a distinct yet 
nearly alUed species. 

Flowers dicEcious-pohjgamous (Native species). 

2. V. Labriis'ca, L. Leaves roundish-cordate, somewhat 3-lobed, 
acutely dentate, densely tomentose beneath ; racemes simple ; berries 
large. 

Fox-Grape, of the Northern States. 

stem 15-20 or 30 feet long, straggling over bushes and small trees. Leaves 4-6 inches 
in length — the tomentum beneath tawny; petioles 2-3 inches long. Berries globose, 
large (about half an inch in diameter), when mature varying in color from nearly black 
to dark amber and greenish-white — with a thickish coat, a tough central pulp", and a 
musky or rancid flavor. 

Moist thickets, along streams : Canada to Georgia. Fl. Juno. Fr. September. 

Obs. This grape is distributed from Canada to Texas, and presents a 
considerable variety in its fruit, being of various colors, and differing 
in form, size and flavor. In general the fruit has a strong and " foxy " 
flavor, but some of the varieties have this in a less degree and are highly 
esteemed. It is supposed that the generally cultivated Isabella and Ca- 
tawba grapes are varieties of this, as are also several others. 

3. V. aestivalis, Mx. Leaves broadly cordate, often 3 - 5-lobed or 
sinuately palmate, coarsely and unequally dentate, loosely tomentose 
beneath ; fertile racemes mostly compound, long, many-flowered ; ber- 
ries small. 

Summer Yitis. Little Grape. Common Wild Grape. 

stem 20-4:0 and sometimes 60 feet or more in length. Leaves 4-8mches long, often 
palmately lobed with rounded sinuses— the younger ones with a loose cobweb-lilce russet 
pubescence beneath, which becomes coarser and more hirsute with age, and sometimes 
nearly disappears. Berries globose, small (generally about one -fourth of an inch in di- 
ameter), deep blue or bluish black when mature, and covered with a flue glaucous pow- 
der — the skin thinnish, and the flavor (especially after a httle frost) a sprightly agreea- 
ble acid. 

Rich woodlands and thickets : Connecticut to Florida. Fl. June. Fr. October. 

Obs. This is the tallest climber of all our Grape-vines, in Pennsylva 
nia ; and I have seen an old vine, of this species, 8-10 inches iu diame- 
ter, at base. The fruit varies in size and quality, — the best specimens 
being well worthy of culture. I have cultivated a native of this vicinity, 
in which the fruit often equals that of the English Grape" (or Miller's 



YIXE PAMILT. H3 




Bura-undy.) in size ; and althougli somewliat harsUy acid, it abounds in 
a rich purple juice, at maturity, — and makes a fine preserve for pastry. 

4. V. COrdifo'lia, ^I^t:- Leaves thin, cordate, acuminate, sharply and 
coarsely toothed, smooth and green on both sides ; racemes slender, 
large, loosely compound ; berries small. 

Heart leaved Yitis. Chicken Grape. Winter or Frost Grape. 

Slem 10-20 feet long, climbing and spreading over ln;slies. Leoxes 2-6 inches long, 
ftmootli, the nerves pubescent beneath. Floiceis greenish, in loose racemes which ofteu 



Fig. 61. Leaf and tendril of the common Fox Grape (Vitis Labrasca). 62. An unex- 
panded flower bud, much enlarged. 63. An open flower, showing the petals cohering by 
their tips and falling away in one piece. 



84 



WEEDS AXD USEFUL PLANTS. 



have long abortive brauclies at base retrograding into tendrils. Fi-nit small, greenish 
amber color, or sometimes nearlj- black -when mature, ripening after frost, very acerb. 
Thickets, &c.: frequent. i^Z. June. P/-. Xovember. 

Obs. The flowers of this Tine are delightfully fragrant. The fruit 
though too acid for eating is said to afford a very fine wine. There is a 
variety with broader and more cut and toothed leaves (var. riparia, 
Gray.) 

6. V. vulpi'na, L. Stem and branches with a close greyish-brown 
bark ; leaves orbicular, coarsely toothed with bluntish teeth, cordate at 
base, smooth and shining on both sides ; fertile racemes compound, um- 
bellulate ; berries large. 

YuLPixE OE Foxy Yitis. Fox-Grape, of the Southern States; also 
called " Muscadine," and " Bullet- or Bull-Grape." 

stem, 20 -bO feet or more in length, with an adhesive greyish minntely warty bark. 
Leaves 2-3 inches in diameter. Berries globose, large (half an inch to three quarters in 
diameter), bluish black when mature, with a thick tough skin and not unpleasant flavor. 

Woodlands and banks of streams : Virginia to Florida. Fl. May - June. Fr. Julv - 
August. 

Obs. The most striking feature of this vine, is the close even texture 
of its grey bark, — somewhat resembling that of the Beech-tree, or Horn- 
beam ; while all the other species, so far as I know, have a loose, lamel- 
lated, stringy, dark-brown bark, after the first year's grovrth. It is 
quite probable, as suggested by Mr, Elliott, that this is the original 
" Fox-Grape," or Y. vulpina, of Lixnaeus. I have observed it growing 
in abundance in the vicinity of the village of Suffolk, Yirgiuia ; but 
have not seen the fruit. The inhabitants assured me, however, that the 
large black berries were quite palatable, — and were uniformly, in that 
region, known by the name of Fox-grapes. Mr. Elliott thought the 
species might be, some day, advantageously cultivated. 

2. AMPELOP'SIS, 3Ix. Yirgixia Creeper. 

[Greek, Ampelos, a vine, and opsis, aspect ; from, its resemblance to the vine.] 

Calyx slightly 5-toothed, without a lining disk. Petals 5, concave, 
thick, opening at apex, expanding before they fall. 

1. A. quinquefo'lia, Mx. Leaves digitate, with 5 oblong lanceolate 
leaflets ; flowers in cymose clusters. 

Five-leaved Ampelopsis. Yirginia Creeper. American Ivj. 

stern 10-50 feet long, diffusely branching, chmbing trees and walls, adhering to them 
by sucker-like expansions at the tips of the tendrils. Leaflets 2-4 inches long with a 
few mucronate teeth, smooth ; common petiole 2-6 inches long. Flowers yellowish-gre^n. 
Berne^ bluish-black ; peduncles crimson. 

Woods and rocks : common. Fl. July. Fr. October. 

Obs. This native vine is one of the most ornamental of the clim(3er3 
and is much cultivated, both in this country and in Europe for covering 
Trails and buildings. It is perfectly hardy and gives a dense mass of 
brilliant green throughout the summer which in the autumn changes td 
the richest shades of crimson and purple. - 



tUCKTHOEX FAMILY. 



85 




Order XX. EHAMNA'CEiE. (BucKTHO«.'f Family.) 

Shrubs or smalHrees having simple mostly alternate leaves vrith stipules minute or obsolete, 
and small, regular, sometimes apetalous yZoi'.'er.s. Stamens 4-5, perigynous, as many as 
the valvate sepals, alternate with them and opposite the hooded or concave petals. Sta- 
mens and petals inserted nn the edge of a yZesAy dis/c which lines the tube of the calyx 
and sometimes coheres with the lower part of the 2 - 5-celled ovary. Stigmas 2-5. FruU a 
drupe or BOd with 1-seeded cells ; seeds not arilled, embryo large, in a sparing fleshy albu- 
viien. 

1. RHA^SI'XUS, Tournef. Buckthorjt. 

[An ancient Greek name, alluding to its numerous branchlets.] 

Cclyx 4-5-cleft, the bell-shaped tube lined with the thin disk. Petals 
4-5, small, notched at the eud, short-clawed, wrapped round the short 
stamens or sometimes wanting. Ovary free, 2 — 4-celled. Fruit a berry- 



FiG. 64. A palmately compound leaf of Virginia Creeper (Ampelopsis quinqutfolia') . 6S» 
An enlarged flower. 



8G 



WEEDS AND USEFUL PLANTS. 



like drupe coutaining 2-4 separate, cartilaginous seed-like nutlets 
wliicli are grooved on the back, as is the contained seed. Shrubs or 
small trees with loosely pinnately-veined leaves and axillary clusters of 
greenish polygamous or dioecious ^oxt'm'. 

1. R. cathar'ticus, L. Erect ; branches thorny at the summit ; leaves 
ovate, minutely serrate ; flowers with the parts in fours ; fruit nearly 
spherical, 4-seeded. 
Cathartic RnAMNUs. Buckthorn. 

Shruh or low tree with greyish bark. BmncTilets ending in sharp points, being stiff 
leafy thorns. Leaves 1~'2 inches long, with a short abrupt aciimination, smooth above, 
often somewhat hairy on the 7-9 prominent veins beneath. Fertile flowers with abortive 
stamens. Sterile floioers with an abortive ovary. Fruit black, nauseous and cathartic. 

Cultivated and spontaneous. Fl. May. Fr. October. 

Ohs. This shrub is a native of Europe and has become quite natural- 
ized in some places. The berries are a violent cathartic and were for- 
merly much used, in the form of syrup, in domestic practice. Before 
they are fully ripe and treated with alum, the berries furnish the water- 
color known as sap-green. The chief use of the plant is to form hedges, 
a purpose for which it is well suited, being quite hardy and bearing 
severe pruning : moreover it puts out its foliage early in the season and 
retains it until late. It is propagated by sowing the seeds, fresh from 
the tree in the fall ; planted in this way they vegetate in the following 
spring. * 

Order XXI. CEL ASTRA' CE^. (Staff-tree Family.) 

Shrubs, rarely trees, with alternate or opposite simple leaves, minute fugacious stipules and. 
small regular j^oit-'ers with the parts in fours or fives and imbricated in the bud. Stamens 
as many as the petals and alternate with them, inserted under the fiat disk that lines the 
bottom of the calyx. Ovary 2-5-celled, with one or few (erect or pendulous) ovules in 
each cell. Fruit 2 - 5-celled, free from the calyx. Seeds arilled ; embryo large in a fleshy 
albumen. 

1. CELAS'TRUS, L. Staff-tree. 

[A name borrowed from the ancient Greek writers.] 

Polygamo-dicocious. Sepals 5, connected at base. Petals and stamens 5, 
inserted on the margin of the cup-shaped disk. Fruit a globose 3-celled, 
3-valved capsule, opening loculicidally. Seeds 1 - 2 in each cell, erect, 
enveloped in a scarlet aril. Leaves alternate ; flowers small and 
greenish. 

1. C. scan'dens, L. Stem woody, twining, unarmed ; leaves ovate- 
oblong, finely toothed, pointed. 

Climbing Celastrus. Wax-work. Climbing Bitter-sweet. 

Stem 10-15 feet long. Leaves 2-4 inches long, on petioles about % of an inch in length. 
Flowers yellowish-green, in small racemes terminating the short branches. IHiU about 
She size of large peas, orange color when mature, opening at length and exposing the 
p-eeds "Tiveloped in their scarlet aril. ♦ 

Ctar tnon in thickets and along streams. Fl. June. Fr. Oct. 



SOAr-BEEBY TAMILT. 



87 




Obs. This is noticed as being one of our most elegant native climbers ; 
it is highly ornamental when trained upon a trellis-work, or around 
the supports of a piazza. The fruit presents, in autumn, a most bril- 
liant appearance, and is a conspicuous object in dry bouquets. The 
plant is readily propagated by seeds and by layers. The Burning Bush 
or Spindle Tree (Euonymus atropurpureus, Jacq.) belongs to the same 
family ; it is an upright shrub with deeply-lobed capsules of a deep red 
color, and presents almost brilliant appearance after the leaves have 
fallen. ^ 

Oeder XXn. SAPIXDA'CE^. (Soap-beeey Family.) 

Trees or shruls with opposite or alterEate mostlv compound leaves, no stipules and (often 
polysamous) mostly irregular and unsymmetrical^^oifers. Petals and sepals 4-5, imbri- 
cate! in the bud. Stamens inserted on a fleshy disk, commonly more numerous 
than the petals or sepals, but rarely twice as many. Ovary i-S-celled and lobed. Fruit 
.capsular or berry -hke. Seeds without albumen ; cotylerlons thick and fleshy. 



Fig. 66 Tt? Clirobing Staff-tree, or Wax-work, (Celastrus scandens). 67. The fruit. 



88 



WEEDS AND USEFUL PLA^sTS. 



1. ^S'CULUS, L. HORSE-CHESTXL-T. 

jThe ancient name of a tree whicli bore esculent fruit.] 

Trees 5r shrubs. Leaves opposite, without stipules ; leaflets to pen. 
ninerved. Flowers unsymmetrical, in large showy terminal thyrsoid 
panicles or racemes, often polygamous. Calyx of 5 connected sepals. 
Petals 5 (or sometimes 4, by the suppression of the lower one), un- 
equal. Stamens 6-8. Ovary 3-celled ; styles united into one. Fruit a 
SLibglobose coriaceous capsule, echinate or unarmed, mostly 1-celled by 
abortion, 2 - S-valved with a loculicidal dehiscence. Seed mostly soli- 
tary by abortion, large, subglobose, with a smooth shining reddish- 
brown coat and broad paler hilum, destitute of albumen ; cotyledons 
very thick and fleshy, gibbous, cohering or soldered together, remaining 
under ground in germination. 

1. Hippocas'taxum, L. Leaflets in sevens, obovate-cuneate, acute, 
dentate ; flowers 5-petaled ; fruit prickly. 

HoRSE-cHESTXUT ^scuLus. Horss-chcstnut. 

Fr Maronnier d' Inde. Germ. Die Rosskastanie. Span. Castano de 
iudias. 

stem 30-50 or 60 feet high, and 1-2 feet in diameter , with numerous symmetrical rather 
erect branches. Leaflets 4-6 or 8 inches long ; common petioles 4-6 inches long. Flowers 
white or ochroleucous, with red spots and tinges of yellow. 

Cultivated. Native of Asia. Fl. Maj-. Fr. Oct. 

Obs. This ornamental tree (which is often called English Horse Chest- 
nut, because it came to us by way of England — but which originally 
came from Northern India — ) has not been as generally introduced as it 
diserves to be. It is symmetrical and handsome, and although of slower 
growth than some others, it is, in my opinion, well worth waiting for — 
on account of its rare beauty, and the perfect shade it aifords. The 
young shoots, or branches of each year, complete their development, and 
come to a full stop, early in the summer, — the residue of the season being 
requisite to harden and prepare them to endure the succeeding winter ; 
and no secondary branches are ever put forth during growth. This tree 
has usually been remarkably exempt from the depredations of insects, 
but during the past summer (1858) it has been, in some localities, badly 
infested by them. In Philadelphia, numerous fine specimens were com- 
pletely stripped of their foliage and probably the future vigor of the 
trees much impaired. The red flowering Horse-chestnut rubicunixa 
and CAENEA of the horticulturists) is probably a variety of this ; it is a 
smaller tree and exceedingly beautiful when in flower. 

2. IE. Pa'via, L. Leaflets 5 ; calyx tubular ; petals 4, erect and con- 
nivent, the upper 2 longest ; stamens not longer than the corolla, fruit 
smooth. 

Red Buckeye. 



M^PLE FAMILY. 



89 



Shriib or sjnall tree. Leaflets somewliat doubly serrate, shining above, smooth or some- 
irhat downy beneath. Flowers large, in a loose thyrsus, calyx and corolla bright red. 
Virginia, Kentucky and southward. May. 

Ohs. The bruised branches of tliis are said, by Elliott, to be employed 
to stupify fish. Several other species are natives of the "western and 
southern States, known by the name of Buckeye, " from a resemblance 
of the seeds to the eye of that animal. These native trees, by reason of 
their abundance, have become the popular emblem of Ohio — vhich is 
known throughout the Union by the soubriquet of the Buckeye State." 
The -wood of the various species is of little value. The seeds contain an 
acrid and narcotic principle and abound in starch, -which has been man- 
ufactured from the common Horse-chestnut in Europe. The roots 
yield a mucilaginous matter which is sometimes used as a substitute for 
soap in washing woollens. * 

Oeder XXTTT. ACEEA'CE^. (Maple Family.) 

Irees with a siccet sap, opposite leaves without stipules, and polygamo-dioecious, regular but 
often apetalous and unsymmetrical_/Zozws. Stamens andpetah inserted on a fleshy, lobed 
disk. Fruit a pair of more or less diverging separable 1-seeded winged keys (samaras) 
with the outer margin thicker and obtuse. Seeds without albumen ; embryo coiled or folded ; 
cotyledons lorg and thin. 

1. A'CER, L. Maple. 

prhe ancient classical name of the Maple. 

Flowers polygamous. Calyx colored, 5-lobed. Petals 5 or often none. 
Stamens 4-12. Styles 2, long and slender, united below. Ovary 2- 
celled with 2 ovules in each cell. Fruit 2 1-seeded winged keys. 

* Flowers in pendulous racemes or corymbs, appearing with the leaves. 

f Petals 5. 

1. A. PsEUD0-PLA'TA^■^s, L. Leaves heart-shaped at base, 5-lobed, un- 
equally toothed ; flowers in terminal pendulous racemes ; fruit diverging. 
False-Plataxus Acer. Sycamore. Greater Maple. 

A large tree when fully grown. Leaves i -6 inches long, on petioles about the same 
length. Racemes about 6 inches long ; rachis and filaments hairy ; flowers yellowish green, 
the sepals and petals nearly alike ; fruit smooth. 

Cultivated. Xative of Europe. April. 

Ohs. This has been introduced as an ornamental shade tree ; but I 
consider our own Sugar Maple and the X orway Maple, as decidedly 
preferable, notwithstanding Cowper's lines : 

'•' nor unnoted pass 

The Sycamore, capricious in attire, 

Now green, now tawny, and, ere autumn yet 

Have changed the woods, in scarlet honors bright." 

Both this and the Plane Tree (Platanus), are vulgarly called Sycamore 
in our language; but why, is not apparent. The true "Sycamore" — 
(perhaps the tree which Zaccheus climbed) — is a species of Fig- tree 
(Ficus Sycomorus, L.) 



90 



WEEDS AXD rSEFUL PLANTS. 



2. A. plataxoi'des, L. Juice milky ; leaves broadly heart-shaped, 5- 
lobed, coarsely toothed ; flowers SDmewhat coiymbose ; fruit divaricato^ 
smooth. 

Pi^TAXus-LiKE Acer. Xorway Maple. 

A large tree when full grown. Leaves 4-6 inches in length and rather wider than long, 
leep shining green ; petioles ahout as long as the leaves, when hroken exuding a milky 
iuice. Flowers pale greenish-yellow, in loose terminal, somewhat pendulous corymhs. 
Keys remarkably divaricate. 

Cultivated. i\ative of Europe. April. 

Ohs. This tree has been but recently introduced ; yet it promises to 
become one of our most desirable shade trees. Its foliage is remarkably 
fine, and abundant, continuing green longer than most other species ; 
and it is said that its milky juice prevents the ravages of insects. 
If Petals none. 

3. A. sacchari'liumj L. Leaves broad, subcordate at base. 3-5- 
lobed Trith the sinuses obtuse, — the lobes acuminate, coarsely and spar- 
ingly sinuate-dentate ; flowers apetalous, pendulous on long filiform, 
villous, fasciculate pedicels ; fruit turgid, smooth. 

SACCH.AJlI^-E Acer. Sugar Maple. 

stem 50-80 feet or more in height, and 2-3 feet in diameter. Leaves 3-5 mches long, 
and generally rather wider than long, dark green above, paler beneath ; _pefioZ€S 2-4 
2iches long. Calyx pale greenish-yellow, truncate and cup-like, the limb fringed with 
Jong hairs. Petals none. Fruit ovoid at base, about an inch long — ^including the wing- 
slightly diverging. 

Rich woodlands : Canada to Georgia. Fl. April-:May. Fr. Sept. 

Ohs. This is one of the most valuable and interesting of our native 
trees, — particularly in the forests of the North and West — where its 
sap, in early spring, yields an immense quantity of Sugar and Syrup. 
The beautiful wood, known as Bird's-eye Maple — so much admh'ed in 
cabinet work — is obtained from this species ; and it is, moreover, rarely 
surpassed, in any respect, as an ornamental shade tree. The Black 
Sugar Maple (A. nigrum, Mkhx. ) is regarded as only a variety of this ; 
its leaves are usually somewhat larger and of a darker green, and of a 
thicker and somewhat leathery texture. The wood of the Sugar Maple 
is highly valued as fuel, ranking near hickory : it also furnishes a fine 
quality of charcoal. 

Flowers in shoii erect dusters, from lateral leafless buds, preceding the 
leaves. 
f Petals none. 

4. A. dasycar'pum, Ehrh. Leaves palmately and deeply 5-lobed with 
the sinuses acute, the lobes unequally incised-dentate ; ovary densely 
tomentose. 

Hairy-fruited Acer. Silver-leaved Maple. White Maple. 

-Stem 30-60 feet high, and 2 feet or more (-'in the Western States sometipies 8-9.'' — 
Thrr. & Gr.) in diameter, much branched, — the young branches virgate and straggling or 
drooping. Leaves 3-6 inches long, bluish white or glaucous beneath ; petioles 2-5 incnea 
long. Flowers in fascicles mostly of fives and sevens. Calyx pale green, truncate anQ 



MAPLE FAMILY. 



91 



Bup-like. Petals notie. JWiii (includicg the -wing) 2-3 inctcs long, one of the carpels 
Ofiually abortive ; pedicels of the fruit an inch long. Seeds large ; embryo nearly straight. 
Banks of rivers : Maine to Georgia. Fl. April. Fr. May -June. 

Obs. This has been extensively introduced into our cities and vil- 
lages, as an ornamental tree, — and is often mistaken for the true Sugar 
Maple. It appears, indeed, from the researches of Prof. A. Geay, that 
Li^XAEUS established the A. saccharinum upon a specimen of this plant ; 
but, as it Tvas done under a misapprehension of its character, the name 
has been very properly ti-ansferred, by all succeeding Botanists, to the 
real sugar-producing species. The Silver Maple, however, is by no 
means to be compared with the Sugar Maple, even as a shade tree, — 
and much less for its economical value. 



ft Petals 5. 




5. A. rn'brum, L. Leaves generally 3-lobed with the sinuses acute, 
subcordate at base, — the lobes acute, spreading, unequally incised- 
dentate ; flowers aggregated on rather long pedicels ; ovary glabrous. 
PtED Acer. Eed Maple. Swamp Maple. 

.Stem 40-60 or 80 feet high, and 1-2 feet or more in diameter, branched, the young 
branches purplish. L&y.ves 2-4 inches long ; petioles 1 or 2-5 inches long. Flowers ap- 
pearing before the leaves, in fascicles of fives. Calyx petaloid, and with the petals bright 
purple, or often yellowish-tawny. FruU (including the wing) near an inch long. 



Fig. 68. A leaf of the Red Maple (Acer rubrum), with its winged key -fruit (samara.) 
69. A stam nate flower. 70. A pistillate flower, both enlarged. 



92 



WEEDS AXD USEFUL PLANTS. 



Moist low grounds ; swampy woodlands : Canada to Florida. Fl. :\[arcli - April. FV 
September. 

Obs. The variety with yellowish or tawny flowers is quite common 
m Pennsylvania. — and in a pretty extensive examination, I find those 
flowers generally staminate and sterile (rarely perfect) : while the bright 
purple flowers are constantly perfect. The wood of the Eed ]\Iaple — 
especially that variety or form of it, known as Curled ]Maple — is much 
used in the manufacture of various articles of furniture, <fcc., and the 
refuse timber makes excellent fuel. The bark affords a dark purplish- 
blue dye, and makes a pretty good bluish-black ink. The sap of all 
the species is more or less saccharine. 

2. XEGUX'DO, 3Ioench. Box-elder. 

[Origin of the name obscure.] 

DicEciGus. Calyx minute, 4-5-cleft. Petals none. Stamixate Fl. 
mostly with 5 stamens on capillary clustered pedicels. Pistillate 
Fl. in simple slender pendulous racemes. FruH as in Acer. Leaves 
pmnate. 

1 K". aceroi'des, Moench. Leaves pinnate in threes or fives ; leaflets 
rhombic-ovate, coarsely cut-toothed. 

Acer-like Neguxdo. Box-elder. Ash-leaved Maple. 

stem 20-40 feet higli, branched ; young branches with a yellowish -green bark. Lmflds 
mostly 3, sometimes odd-pinnate in fives, .3-5 inches long ; ccrimion petioles 3-4 inches in 
lengtli. Floicers yellowish-green, from lateral buds ; ovaries hairy ; fi-uit diverging. 

Low grounds : iliddle and Southern and Western Stat-es. April." 

Obs. A handsome little tree, more abundant in the South and T>'est 
than in the Eastern states. 



Order XXW. POLTGALATE^. (Milkwort Family.) 

Serbs with mostly alternate simple and entire leaves, without stipules, and irregular some- 
what papilhonaceous^/iou-ers. Stamens i - 8 , diadelphous : anthers 1-celled, opening by a 
pore at the summit. "Style curved, often hooded. Fruit a'2-celled 2-seeded capsule. 

1. POLTGA'LA, Tournef. Milkwort. 

[Greek, Poly, much, and Gala, milk ; from its supposed influence on the lacteal secretion.] 

Sepals 5, persistent ; the upper and two lower ones small, greenish ; the 
two lateral ones (called wings) much larger and petal-like. Petals 3, 
hypogynous, connected with each other and with the stamen-tube ; the 
middle or lower one keeled, often crested. Capsule compressed con- 
trary to the narrow partition, loculicidal. Seeds with a caruncle or 
variously shaped appendage at the hilmn. 

1. P. Sen'ega, L. Perennial, stems simple, terete ; leaves alternate, 
elliptic-lanceolate, the upper ones acuminate ; raceme terminal, spike- 



PULSE FAMILY. 



93 



form ; wings of the calyx orbicular-obovale. concave, ratlier longer 
than the petals. 

Seneka Snake-root. Milkwort. Mountain Flax. 

Root perennial, tliick and somewhat woodr. vc'iih. coarse branches. Stems usually several 
from the same root, 9-15 inches high, herbaceous and rather flaccid. Leaves ! or 2-4 
inches long — those near the root small, ovate and scale-like. Fleecers greenish-white. 
Capsule orbicular. Seeds large, pyriform, hairy, the arillus-like caruncles nearly as long 
as the seeds. 

Hilly woodlands : Canada to Xorth Carohca. Fl. May. Fr. July. 

Obs. The root of this species is so valuable for its medicinal proper- 
ties — as a stimulating expectorant, in croup, <tc., — that although not 
a plant of agricultural interest, every farmer ought to know its charac- 
ter, and be able to recognise it when he sees it. 



Order XXY. LEGUMIXO'SJE. (Pclse Family.) 

Herbs, shrubs or trees with alternate stipulate and usually compound leaves, and papilio- 
naceous or regular flmcers. Stamens mostly 10 (rarely' 5, sometimes many) monadel- 
phous, diadelphous (9 and 1) , or rarely distinct. Fisiil simple, becoming a legume in fruit. 
Seeds without albumen, attached to the upper suture of the pod. 

This vast family — comprising upwards of 400 genera — is as important as it is compre- 
hensive. Among the remarkable plants, or products, belonging to the Order, and not 
here described, may be mentioned — on account of their value, beauty or other character- 
istics—the Logwood (Hsematoxylon Campechianum, L.) — the Braziletto, or Brazil Wood 
(Caesalpinia Brasiliensis, L.) — the Rose Wood (a species of ilimosa) — ^the Sissoo Wood of 
India (Dalbergia Sissoo Roxb.) — the Red Sandal Wood (Pterocarpus santaUnus, L.) — the 
Liquorice plant (Glycyrrhiza glabra, L.) — the Tamarind tree (Tamarindus Indica, L.^ — 
the Tonka Bean (Dipteris odorata, Willd.) — the Senna of the Shops (Cassia Senna, L.) — 
the plants yielding Gum Arabic (species of Acacia), and various other gums and balsams 
—the pretty Laburnum (Citysus Laburnum, L.) — and the wonderful Sensitive plant 
(ilimosa pudica, L.), kc, &c. " The famous Chinese condiment called " Soy," is also ob- 
tained froui the seeds of a plant (Dolichos Soja, L., or Soja hispida, LC.) belonging to this 
Order ; and the bean called " Dnal," in Bengal, is, I beheve, the seed of the Cajanui 
flavus, DC. 

The numerous genera comprised in this Order are disposed in several sub-orders, tribes 
and sub-tribes. ITiose described in this work are arranged in the following synopsis ; 



X. TRUE PULSE FAMILY. Papilioxace^. 

ChZi/a; of 5 sepals more or less united , often unequally so. CoroTZct irregular. Papiliona- 
ceous, consisting of 5 unequal petals inserted in the base of the calyx, the upper called the 
standard (vexiilum) larger than the others and enclosing them in the bud. The two 
lateral called v.-ings are exterior to the two lower, which are more or less united at their 
edges and form the ked, which usually encloses the stamens and pistil. Stamens 10 
(rarely 5), diadelphous, sometimes monadelphous, or distinct. Ovary 1-celled. Cctyledont 
large and thick, radicle, mostly incurved.. Leaves simple or compound. 

* Stamens monadelphous or diadelphous. Pod contmuous and l-ceUed, 
or sometimes 2-celled lengthwise. Cotyledons becoming green leaves 
in germination. Xot climbing or twining (except Wistaria) , nor tendril 
bearing. 

Stamens monadelphous ; anthers of 2 forms. Loaves simple. 1. Gemsta. 

Stamens diadelphous (9 & 1). Leaves palmately 3- (or rarely pumately 
5-)foholate. Pods small, resembling akenes. Herbs. 
Flowers in heads. Pods thin, enclosed in the persistent calyx, 1-6- 

seeded. 2. TRiFOLmi. 

Flowers in racemes, or spikes. 

Pods -wrinkled, 'coriaceous. 3. Meixlotts, 

Pods curved or spiraUy coiled. 4. Medicago. 



94 



WEEDS AXD USEFUL PLANTS. 



Stamens diadelphous. Pods several- 
seeded, at length 2-valved, 1-celled 
(rarely with cellular partitions be- 
tween the seeds). Leaves unequally- 
pinnate. Flowers in racemes. 

Pods flat and thin, margined on- one 
edge. Trees or shrubs ; leaflets 
stipellate. 5. 
Pods tumid marginless. Shrubs 
with long twining stems ; leaf- 
lets not stipellate. 6. 
Keel with a subulate spur on each 
side. Pods deflected on the 
pedicel, with cellular partitions 
between the truncate seeds. 
Herbaceous. 7. 
** Stamens diadelphous. Pod continu- 
ous, 1-celled. Cotyledons remaining 
under ground in germination. Herbs 
with the common petiole generally 
produced into a bristle or tendril. 
Leaves without tendrils. 

Leaves odd-pinnate in 4-6 pairs. 

Pods inflated, •2-seeded. 8. 
Leaves equally pinnate. Pods form- 
ed under ground. 9. 
Leaves with tendrils. 
Tendril simple, nearly obsolete. 
Seeds large, fixed by one end. 
Stem erect. 10. 
Tendrils nearly simple. Seeds 

small, lenticular, 2 in each pod. 11. 
Tendrils long and branching, calyx 
lobe leafy. Stipules large. Seeds 
globular. 12. 
Tendril conspicuous, calyx lobes 
not leafy. Style hairy. 13. 
** Stamens diadelphous. Cotyledons rising above ground in germination. 
Twining herbs, leaves without tendrils. Flowers in racemes. Keel 
spiral. 14. 
Stamens 10 distinct. Keel petals distinct. Pods inflated. Leaves pal- 
mately 3-foliolate. 15. 




ROBIMA 

WiSTAraA 



IXDIGOFEKA 



QCKR. 



Faba. 
Ervum 

PiSUM. 
YlCIA. 

Phaseolus. 
Baptisu. 



2. BRASILETTO FAMILY. C^salpine^. 



Corolla nearly regular, often somewhat papilionaceous, the standard 
then within the other petals. Stamens 10 or fewer, distinct. 
Flowers imperfectly papilionaceous, reddish, appearing before the 

simple roundish heart-shaped leaves. Trees. 16. Cercis. 

Flowers not papilionaceous. Herbs with simply pinnate leaves and 

yellow flowers. 17. Cassia, 

Trees with leaves mostly twice pinnate. Flowers not at all papiho- 

naceous, dioecious or polygamous. 
Flowers dioecious. Stamens 10 and petals 5, inserted on the summit 

of the funnel-shaped calyx-tube. Pod broad and hard. Leaves 

2-pinnate. 18. GnixocLAorSi 

Flowers polygamous. Stamens and Petals 3-5 on the bottom of the 

open calyx. Pod long and flat. Leaves 1 - 2-pinnate. 19. GLEonscHiA. 



Fig. 71. The common Pea (Pisura sativum), showing a pinnate leaf with very large 
stipules, terminated by a tendril ; a papilionaceous flower and an immature legume. 

3^ 



PULSE FAMILY. 



95 




73 



Fig. 72. An enlarged flower of a Pea (Pisum sativum) divided to show the position of the 
parte ;lilustrating the general structure of the true Pulse Family (Papilionaceae). a Sepals. 
h Outer petal or banner, c One of the side petals or wings, d One of the two lower 
petals which form the keel, e Stamen tube. /The ovary containing the ovules. 73. 
Pea flower with petals and calyx removed, showing the united stamens (diadelphoua 
9 & 1), enclosing the pistil. 



96 



TrEEDS AXD LSEFUL riAXT3. 



1. GENIS'TA, L. Woad-waxe:t. 

[Xame from the Celti'" gen, a busli.] 

Calyx 2-lipped. Standard oblong-oval, spreading. Keel oblong, straiglit, 

scarcely enclosing the stamens and style. Stamens monadelplious, the 

sheath entire ; 5 alternate anthers shorter. Pod flat, several-seeded. 

Shrubby plants. Leaves simple. Flowers yellow. 

1. G. tincto'eia, L. Low, thornless, with striate angled erect branches ; 

leaves lanceolate ; flowers in spiked racemes. 

Dyer's Genista. Woad- waxen. Whin. Dyer's Green Weed. 

stem about a foot high, erect or ascending. Leaves sessile, rather distant. Floiveis 
bright yellow with a small bract at the base of each. 
A native of Europe, Massachusetts and E. New York. June -July. 

Obs. This plant has become thoroughly naturalized in some places, especi- 
ally in Eastern Massachusetts, where it is so abundant in some localities as 
to give to the hill-sides a yellow appearance when in flower. It abounds in 
coloring matter, and is used to dye wool yellow. It is said that when 
cows feed upon it their milk becomes bitter. It has some medicinal repu- 
tation, and is a popular remedy among the Russian peasantry for hydro- 
phobia. ® 

2. TRIFO'LIUM, L. Clover. 

[Latin, tres, three, and folium, leaf ; characteristic of the genus.] 

Calyx tubular, persistent, 5-cleft ; segments subulate. Corolla usually 
withering ; petals more or less united, and mostly free from the stamen- 
tube ; keel shorter than the wings and vexillum. Legume small, mem- 
branaceous, scarcely dehiscent, 1-2- (rarely 3 - 4-) seeded, mostly 
included in the calyx-tube. Flowers mostly in heads or spikes. Stipules 
adnate to the base of the petiole. 

* Florets sessile in compact heads ; corolla purple or pale pink and spotted. 
1. T. arvense, L. Stem erect, pilose ; leaflets linear-obovate or spatu- 
late, minutely 3-toothed at apex ; stipules narrow, subulate-acuminate ; 
heads oblong-cylindric, softly villous ; calyx-segments longer than the 
corolla ; petals scarcely united. 

Field Trifoliuji. Stone Clover. Welsh Clover. Eabbit-foot. 
Fr. Pied de Lievre. Germ. Der Hasen Klee. Span. Pie de Liebre. 

Whole plant softly pilose. Root annual. Stem 6-12 inches high, slender, generally 
much branched. Leaflets half an inch to an inch long ; common petioles one-fourth of an 
inch to an inch long. Corolla inconspicuous, whitish or pale pink, with a purple spot on 
the wings. Legume 1-seeded. 

Sterile old fields: Canada to Florida: introduced. Native of Europe. Fl. June- 
August. Fr. August -October. 

Obs. This species — a naturalized foreigner — is only entitled to the 
notice of the farmer on account of its prevalence and its worthlessness 
Its presence is a pretty sure indication of a thin soil, and neglected Agri- 
culture : and the appropriate remedy is to improve both. It is then 
easily superseded by more valuable plants. 



PULSE FAAOLr. 



97 



2. T. pratense, L. Stems ascending ; leaflets oval or ovate-oblong, often 
retuse ; stipules broad, terminating in a bristle-like point ; heads ovoid, 
dense-flowered, sessile, bracteate at base : calyx-segments scarcely half 
as long as the corolla, the lower one longer than the others. 

AEeadow Trifolium. Ked 
Clover. Common Clover. 

Fr. Trefle des Pres. Germ. 
Der Wiesen-Klee. Span. 
Trebol. 

Root biennial, or perennial ? large, 
fusiform. Stems several from the 
same root, 1 - 2 or 3 feet long, rather 
weak at base and often decumbent, 
somewhat branched, striate and 
pilose. Leaflets half an inch to an 
inch and a half long, sessile, usu- 
all.v with a broad paler spot in the 
middle, hairy beneath ; coinvion 
■petiole half an inch to 4-5 inches 
long. JJeads of flowers ovoid or 
subglobose, an inch or more in 
diameter. Corolla purplish-red 
(rarely white)— the petals al' 
vmited into a slender tube about 
half an inch in length. Legume 
1-seeded, included in the calyx. 
(Seed reniform, greenish-yellow with 
a shade of reddish brown. 

Cultivated fields, meadows, kc. 
Canada to Florida : introduced. 
Native of Europe. J"?. May -Sept. 
Fr. July -October. 

Ohs. This plant (which is sometimes spoken of in works upon agriculture 
as a grass.) is one of the most valuable forage plants. It is thoroughly natu- 
ralized ; but it is also diligently cultivated by all good farmers. In con- 
junction with the grasses — especially with Timothy (Phleum pratense.) 
it makes the best of hay — though by itself it is rather indifferent pasture. 
Its culture exerts a most kindly influence on the soil, and its introduction 
as an ameliorating crop, has had a most beneficial influence upon Agri- 
culture. It is the crop most frequently cultivated to " turn in," and 
thus enrich the soil with organic matter. The plant is generally con- 
sidered to be a biennial ; but Mr. Joshua Hoopes — who is a very acute 
observer — assures me, he has satisfactorily ascertained that the plant will 
live more than two years. It is not known at what time clover came 
into general cultivation in this country ; but it is recorded that John 
Bartram had fields of it, prior to the American Eevolution. The 
flowers contain much nectar, — but the tube of the corolla is so long that 
the Honey Bee cannot reach the treasure with its proboscis ; and conse- 



FiG. 74. A cluster or head of the flowers of Red Clover (Trifolium pratense) , and a tri- 
foliolate leaf. To. A separate flower, enlarged, a A pod, or rounded legume, b The 
seed, c The cmbrvo removed from the seed coat. 

5 




98 



WEEDS AND USEFI]"L PLANTS. 



quenth that insect rarely alights on the heads, but leaves them to tht 
more amply, provided Humble Bee. I have m^et with a number of in< 
stances in which tlie corolla was replaced by five distinct green leaflets — 
with other modifications of the flower, which finely illustrated Goethe's 
theory of retrograde metamorphosis. The nearly related Zigzag Clover 
(T. medium), which has entire and spotless leaflets and larger, deeper 
purple, and mostly stalked heads, is naturalized in E. Massachusetts. 

Florets 'pedicellate in umbel-like round heads , corolla white or rose- 
color, turning brownish in fading ; the short pedicels refiexed when old. 

3. T. re'pens, L. Stems creeping, diffuse ; leaflets roundish-obovate 
and emarginate, or almost obcordate, denticulate ; heads depressed-glo- 
bose, on very long axillary peduncles ; legumes about 4rseeded. 

Ceeeping Trifolium. White Clover. Dutch Clover. 

Fr. Triolet. Trefle blanche. Germ. Weisser-Klee. Span. Trebol blanco' 

Root perennial. Stefm 4-12 or 15 inclies long, smooth, procumbent, radicating, difTuselj 
branching from the base. Leaflets half an inch to an inch long ; common petiole 1 or 2-6 
or 8 inches long. Heads of flowers on erect sulcate naked peduncles which are f>-om 2-8 
and twelve inches in length. Coi-olla white, withering and becoming a pale dirty brown. 
Legume >4-K of an inch long, torulose,2 or 3-5-seeded. Seeds irregularly ovoid, reddish- 
brown. 

Pastures, woodlands, &c., throughout the United States. J^L May -September. Fr. 
July -October. 

065. The pedicellate florets are somewhat corymbose — forming de- 
pressed-globose or vertically flatted heads. The outer or lower florets 
open first, and are successively reflexed, — so that, during the process of 
flowering, the heads appear horizontally divided between the withered 
and the young or opening florets. This species is everywhere common — 
and in some years very abundant, — though rarely cultivated. Its flowers 
are a favorite resort of the Honey Bee ; and the plant is esteeir^ed, a;'! 
affording an excellent pasture in the cooler portions of the country — 
though Mr. Elliott speaks unfavorably of it, in the South. Tourey 
and Gray consider the White Clover as indigenous, while others be- 
lieve it to have been introduced from Europe. Jonathan Dickinson, 
in 1719 [vide Watson's Annals), writing from Pennsylvania, says, "the 
white clover already tinges the roads as a natural production." Kalm, 
in 1748, spoke of it as being abundant, here. T. reflex'um, L., 
(Buffalo Clover), which has ascending pubescent stems, and very 
large heads of red and white flowers, and the nearly related T. 
Stoloniferum, Muhl. (Running Buffalo Clover), with long runners, 
are common at the West. But little is known of their agricultural 
value. Two introduced, annual species, are found in old fields and 
along road-sides ; they have both yeUow flowers, which are reflexed and 
become chestnut-brown with age, viz. : T. agrarium, L., (Yellow 
or Hop Clover), which is mostly erect, with leaflets all from the same 



PULSE FAMILY. 



90 



point; T, procumbens, L., (Low Hop Clover), usually procumbent, 
the termiual leaflet petiolulate. They are worthless species,— which 
are gradually extending themselves from our sea- ports to the interior 
of the country. 

3. MELILO'TUS, Toiirnef. Melilot. 

[Greek, Mdi, honey, and Lotus ; a Lotus-like plant, attractive of Bees.] 

Calyx as in Clover. Corolla deciduous. Legume longer than the calyx, 
coriaceous, globose or ovoid, 1- few-seeded, scarcely dehiscent. Herbs 
becoming fragrant in drying. Flowers mostly in long spicate racemes- 
] . 31. alba. Lam. Stem rather erect, striate ; leaflets ovate-oblong, 
somewhat emarginately truncate at apex, mucronate, remotely dentate- 
serrate ; racemes loose, elongated ; corolla white, the standard longer 
than the other petals ; legume ovoid-oblong, wrinkled ; 1 - 2-seeded. 
White- FLOWERED Melilotus. Tree Clover. Bokhara Clover. 
Fr. Le Melilot blanc. Germ. Weisser Steinklee. Span. Meliloto. 

Root biennial? Stem at first ascending or oblique, finally erect, 3-5 or 6 feet high, stout, 
striate-ribbed, smooth, paniculately branched. Leaflets an inch to an inch and a half 
long ; common petioles 1-2 inches long. Racemes 2-4 inches long, on axillary peduncles 
1-2 inches in length. Flowers retrorsely imbricated before opening. 

Introduced, and partially cultivated. Native of Europe. Fl. June -August. Fr. 
August - September . 

0^5. This plant has been introduced by some amateur farmers, and 
much commended as being specially suited for soiling (or cutting, as 
wanted, for stock that are kept up) ; but, without any practical know- 
ledge on my part, I cannot help doubting whether so coarse a plant can 
be as valuable as the common Eed Clover. A former species of this 
genus [M. coerulea, Lam.) — but which has been separated, and is now 
the Trigonella coerulea, DC, a plant of strong and enduring odor — is 
employed, in Switzerland, to give the peculiar flavor to the famous 
Schabzieger, or (as it is usually called in the vernacular) " Sap-sago " 
Cheese. Another species with yellow flowers [M. officinalis, Willd^, is 
also found in waste places. 

4. MEDICA'GO, Tournef. Medick. 

[So named by the Greeks, from having been introduced by the Medes.] 

Flowers mostly as in Melilotus. Legume usually many-seeded, of various 
forms — always more or less falcate, or spirally coiled. Leaves pinnately 
3-foliolate. 

1. M. sattva, L. Stem erect ; leaflets obovate-oblong, dentate ; stipules 
lanceolate, subdentate ; racemes oblong ; legumes spirally twisted, finely 
reticulated, several-seeded. 

Cultivated Medicago. Lucerne. Spanish Trefoil. French Luzerne. 
Fr. La Luzerne. Germ. Der Schneckenklee. Span. Alfalfa. Mielga. 



100 



WEEDS A^'D USEFUL PLANTS. 




Root perennial. Stem, 1-2 feet high, branched, smoothish. Leaflets half an inch to an 
inch long — the lateral ones subsessile, the terminal one petiolulate ; common petiole one- 
fourth to three-fourths of an inch long. Racemes erect, on peduncles half an inch to an 
inch long. Corolla violet-purple, nearly twice as long as the calyx. 

Introduced : cultivated. Native of Spain. jFZ. June -July. !Fi-. August. 

Ohs. This was formerly cultivated on a small scale, as a fodder ; but 
it did not find favor ^vith our farmers, and is now rarely seen in Pennsyl- 
vania. It might answer, for soiling, in suitable situations — though I 
think the stem is too ligneous and wiry to become a favorite fodder, 
where the red clover can be had. Its culture is successful in Northern 
Mexico, where it is cut several times during the season. The Samt-foin 
{Hedi/sarum Onohrychis, L., or Oncbrychis sativa, Lam., a plant of the 
Hedysarwn tribe), is much cultivated for fodder, on the calcareous soils 
of Europe— and the late Mr. Ckawfoed, of Georgia, interested himself 
in endeavoring to introduce it into the Southern States ; but I do not 
learn that its culture was adopted to any extent. I have never met with 
it on any farm ; and presume it scarcely belongs to the Agriculture of 
this country. 

2. M. lupidi no, L. Stem procumbent, pubescent ; leaflets wedgo- 
obovate, denticulate at the apex ; flowers in short spikes, yellow ; legumes 
reniform 1-seeded. 

Hop-like Medicago. Black Medick. Nonesuch. 

Biennial? Stem 6-12 inches long, somewhat branched, procumbent. Leaflets % 3.n 
inch to nearly an inch long, sometimes nearly rhomboid. Common pdioles X of an inch 
to an inch in length. Heads of flowers at first roundish, finally oblong, on slender pedun- 
cles 1-2 inches long. Legumes black at maturity. 

Fields, kc. Nat. from Europe. June -Aug. 

Obs. This species which, when in flower, resembles a yellow clover, 
is quite common in pastures in England, and is sparingly naturalized in 
this country. Several other species, recognized by their spirally coiled 
pods, are sometimes found in waste places, their seeds having been intro- 
duced in wool. ^ 

5. EOBI'NIA, L. Locust-tree. 

[Name in honor of John and Ye'^pasian Robin; French Botanists.] 

Calyx short, 5-toothed, slightly 2-lipped. Vexillum large and rounded, 
reflexed, scarcely longer than the wings and keel. Legume compressed; 



Fig. 76. A curv ed pod of Lucerne (iledicago sativi'm) . 



4' 



PULSE FAillLY. 10] 

many-seC'Jed, tne upper or seed-bearing suture margined. Trees or shnihs. 
Leaflets petialulate, stipellate ; base of the leafstalks enlarged, covering 
the bads of the ensuing year. 

1. R. Psend-aca'cia, L. Branches virgate, armed with stipular prioides ; 
leaflets oblono--ovate ; racemes loose, drooping ; legumes smooth. 
False-AG A.CIA Eubixia. Locust-tree. 

stem 30-60 or 80 feet bigli, and 1-2 feet in diameter. Leaflets 3 or 4-8 or 9 pairs, 1-2 
inches long, each wUh a small subulate stitel at base ; comniGn petiole pinnate nearly to 
the base. With 2 stout pricicles in place of stipules. Racemes inches long. Corolla 
white. Legume 2-3 iuclics long. 

Mountain furc-sts : Pennsylvauia to Arkaiisas. Fl. May- June. Fr. September. 

Qui. The Locust-tree, though generally found in the Middle and 
Eastern States, is only truly indigenous in the Western and Southern 
portions of the Union. It attains its greatest perfection in Kentucky 
and Tennessee, Y»'here it reaches to the height of 90 feet, with a diameter 
of 4 feet. The timber is one of the most valuable, whether for strength 
or durability ; in the former quality it ranks but little below the oak, 
while its resistance to decay, even when exposed to the most destructive 
influences, exceeds that of the wood of any other of our forest-trees. It 
is largely employed in ship building, and is preferred to any other wood 
for treenails, as the pins are called which fasten the planks to the frame 
of the vesseL For posts, rail-road ties or sleepers, (fee, it is invaluable. 
The Locust is often planted as an ornamental tree ; it has a graceful 
habit, and is highly — even oppressively — fragrant, when in floM'er. The 
disadvantages attending its culture about dwellings are, the readiness 
with which its branches are broken by the wicds, the many suckers its 
roots send up, and the numerous insects that live upon it. Indeed, so 
many insects prey upon this tree, that in some localities it seldom attains 
any great size. It is said that when the trees are planted closely, so as 
to form Locust Groves, they are much less liable to the attacks of worms 
than when they grow singly. Considering the value of the timber and 
the rapidity of its growth, even on light and poor land, the culture of 
the Locust is worthy of much more attention than it has yet received at 
the hands of our farmers. The Clammy Locust (R. visco'sa, Vent.) is 
inferior in size and value ; it has the branches clothed with viscid glands, 
and is found on the southern borders of Virginia, and further South. 
The Rose Acacia (R. his'pida, L.) is a shrub 3-8 feet high, with large 
rose-colored flowers. It is often cultivated, but is inclined to spread and 
become troublesome if not kept within bounds. * 

G. WISTA'RIA, Nutt. Wistakia. 

[Xamed for Prof. Caspar Wistar, of the University of Pennsylvania.] 

Calyx campanulate, somewhat 2-lipped ; the upper lip of 2 short teeth ; 
the lower of 3 longer ones. Standard large, with 2 callosities at base ; 
keel scythe-shaped ; ivings with one or two auricles at base. Pod stipi- 
tate. elongated, nearly terete, knobby, many-seeded. Twining shrubs 



102 wi:eds A^'D useful tlaxts. 

with unequally pinnato leaves of 9 -13 leaflets, and minute stipules, v/ith 
lilac-colored flowers in large racemes. 

1. W. friites'cens, DC. "Wings of the corolla 2-auricled at base; 
ovary glabrous. 

Virginia, South and West, jiay. 
'Woody Wistaria. Glycine. Carolina Kidney Bean. 

2. W. Chixex'sis, DC. Wings of corolla 1-auricled at base ; ovary hairy. 
Cultivated. Native of China. May. 

Chinese W^istapja. Glycine. 

0^5. These beautiful vines, the one a native of the rich alluvial soils 
of the southern portion of the Union, and the other from China, are 
eminently Tvorthy of cultivation. They both grow readily, are quite 
hardy, and may be propagated with the greatest ease. The Chinese 
species is most generally cultivated, its flower racemes being much 
larger than in the native one ; but the other is much darker colored, 
and has more fragrance. * 

7. IXDIGOF'ERA, L. Indigo. 

[A Latinized name ; meaning a plant that produces or brings Indigo.] 

Calyx 5-cleft ; segments acute. Vexillum orbicular, emarginate ; keel 
with a subulate spur on each side — at length often bent back elastic- 
ally. Stamens diadelphous. Style filiform, glabrous. Legume continu- 
ous, 1- few- or many-seeded. Seeds truncate at both ends, often separat- 
ed by cellular partitions. Herbaceous or suffruticose plants. Leaves 
various, usually odd-pinnate ; stipules small, distinct from the petiole, 
Flou-ers in axillary racemes. 

1. I. tixcto'eia, L. Stem suffruticose, erect; joung branches and 
common petioles clothed with a cinereous pubescence ; leaflets in 4 or 5 
pairs, with a terminal odd one, oval or obovate-oblong, mucronate, 
petiolulate, somewhat pubescent beneath with whitish appressed hairs ; 
racemes shorter than the leaves ; legumes sub-terete, torulose, curved 
and bent downwards. 

Dyer's Ixdigofeea. Indigo. Indigo-plant. 

Fr. LTndigotier. Germ. Die Indigopflanze. Span. Indigo. 

Annual or liennial. Stem 2-3 feet high, branching. Leaflets half an inch to an inch in 
length; comvion petiole 2-3 inches long. Macemes 1-2 inches long. Corolla purplish- 
blue. Legumes numerous, half an inch to three-quarters in length, deflected on the 
pedicel, curved upwards. 

Southern States : cultivated. Native of Asia and Africa. 

Ohs. This plant, so important in yielding a blue coloring matter — 
was formerly cultivated to a considerable extent, in Georgia, and some 
other portions of the South : but the supply from India, and other 
places abroad, seems to have curtailed that branch of Southern Agri- 
culture, — and has probably turned the attention of the planters to a 



puj.se family. 



103 



more bealtliful and agreeable, if not a more profitable, employment 
Tiie indigo-plant is said to be annual, when subject to innudations, — ■ 
as on the delta of the Ganges ; but it is sometimes fruticose — yielding 
one or %\yo ratoon crops (i. e. successive growths of suckers, or sprouts), 
aftei- having been cut off. Another species — I. Anil, L. — is said to 
be also cultivated at the South. It differs from the above chiefly in its 
flattened, even (not torulose) pods. 

8. CI'CER, Tournef. Chick-pea. 

[The Latiu name for a species of Vetch ; apphed to this genus.] 

Calyx somewhat gibbous at base, 5-parted ; segments acuminate, — 
the upper ones incumbent on the vexillum. Legume turgid, 2-seeded. 
Seeds gibbous. 

1. C. aeieti'num, L. Leaves odd-pinnate ; leaflets cuneate-ob ovate, 

serrate ; stipules lanceolate, subdenticulate ; calyx slightly gibbous, — 

the segments as long as the wings of the corolla. 

Ram Cicer. Coffee-pea. Chick-pea. Garavances. 

Fr. Le Pois Chiche. Germ. Gemeine Kicher. Span. Garbanzo. 

"Whole plant canescent and glandular-pilose, the hairs secreting oxalic acid. Root 
annual. Stem 9-18 inches high, branching. Leaflets about half an inch long, in 4-6 
pairs (often alternate) with a terminal odd one instead of a tendril. Flon-ers axillary , 
solitary, white. Seed gibbous, pointed — in form resembling the head of a sheep — and 
hence the specific name. 

Gardens: cultivated. Native of Europe and the East. J"?. July -September. Fr 
August -October. 

Obs. This is sometimes cultivated for the seeds — which are said to 
be a tolerable substitute for cofiee. The seeds are much used, as food 
for horses, <tc. in India, — being very abundant (as I recollect to have 
Been it) in the Bazaars at Calcutta, under the name of " Gram." This 
vetch is the " Hamoos Pea which is announced as a novelty, or a great 
curiosity (discovered among the Arabs) in Lynch's Expedition to the 
Dead Sea ; though it has been familiarly known in the gardens, through- 
out the civilized world, ever since the days of Tournefort — if not of 
Homer ! So much for the penny-wnse policy of sending out Exploring 
Expeditions unaccompanied by competent Naturalists. 

9. APA'CHIS, L. Peanut. 

[An ancient name of obscure meaning.] 

DicBciously polgyamous. The sterile and fertile flowers produced together 
in the axils ; the sterile, most numerous in the ujDper axils, with a 
slender calyx tube, the limb bilabiate, the upper lip 4-toothed, the lower 
entire. Stamens monadelphous (9 united and 1 abortive,) ovary mi- 
nute, abortive. Fertile fl. without caljx, corolla, or stamens. Ovary 
. on an elongating stipe by which it is thrust under ground, where it ma- 
tures as an oblong obtuse terete pod, the indehiscent valves becoming 
thickened and soncwhat woody, reticulately veined on the surface. 



104 



STEEDS AND USEFUL PLANTS. 



Seeds irregularly ovoid witli very thick cctyledons and a straight radicle. 
Herbs with eveu-pianate leaves having elongated stipules adnate to the 
petiole, the stipe or peduncle of the lertile tiowers olten elonoatiug sev- 
eral inches before reaching the earth. (This plant properly belongs to 
a section of the order not included in our synopsis, and is placed here 
as a matter of convenience.) 

1. A. hypog^'a, L. Stem procumbent ; leaflets obovate, — the '_om« 
mon petiole not produced into a tendril. 

Subterranean Arachis. Ground-nut. Pea-nut. 

Fi: LArachide. Gei"n. Die Erd-nuss. Span. Mani. 




7t 



jKrrof !i:\i'\i\t\L S'/m 9 -IS inches long, prostrate or erect, branching, pilose. Leaflets ac 
itch vo )iu ?iicS J,nd a half long, suhsessile, minutely mucronate at apex, entire aiid bor- 
dered \\y a i"5 ose nerve; common petioles 1-2 inches long, chann'ell'ed above, pilose. 
Sterue floivei's, 'i or 2- b or 7, in the upper axils, on long slender pedicels — ^the corolla 
orange-yellow. 

Cultivated. Native of South America. J"?. July-Septsmber. JV. September - October. 



Fig. 77. The Pea-nut (Arachis hypogjea), exhibiting the manner in which the ovaries, 
after flowering, bury themselves in the earth, where they ripen. 



PULSE FA3IILY, 



105 



Oh. The summers are rather short for this plant, iii Pennsylvania, - 
where it is sometimes seen in gardens, as a curiosity : but, in the Soutli- 
ern states it is cultivated to a great extent,— and from thence our nut- 
merchants derive their supply. The seeds, — either raw, or roasted in 
the legumes— are quite a favorite with children, and others ; and large 
quantities of them are consumed at all public gatherings. The seeds 
are said, also, to yield a valuable oil. 

10. FA'BA, Tournef. Hoese-bean. 

[The Latin name for a Bean; appropriated to this genus.] 

Calyx tubular, 5-cleft, — the two upper segments shorter. Style bent 

nearly at a right angle with the ovary ; stigma villous. Legume large, 

coriaceous, somewhat tumid. Seeds oblong, subcompressed, with the 

hilum at one end. Stem erect. Tendrils simple and nearly obsolete. 

1. F. yvlga' F.is, Moench. Leaflets 2 - 4, oval, mucronate ; stipules semi- 

Bagittate, obliquely ovate. 

CoMMOx Faba. Horse Bean. Windsor Bean. 

Fr. Feve de Marais. Germ. Die Sau-Bohne. Span. Haba. 

Eoot annual. Stem 1-2 feet high, simple, smooth. Leaflets 2-3 inches long, entire, 
smooth ; tendnls obsolete ; stipules large. Flowers in simple erect axillary racemes. 
Corolla white, with a large black spot on each wing. Legume 2-3 inches long, torulose. 

Gardens : cultivated. i^Z. June -July. J^V. August. 

Obs. This bean — ^originally from the shores of the Caspian Sea — 
is sometimes cultivated for the table, — but is not generally admired. 
The seeds have a strong and rather unpleasant flavor. 

11. ER'YUM, Tournef. Lentil. 

[The Latin name for a species of Vetch or Tare.] 

Calyx o-parted ; segments lance-linear, acute, about as long as the 
corolla. Style ascending ; stigma glabrous. Legume 2 - 4-seeded. 

1. E. Lens, L. Stem erect, branching ; leaflets elliptic oblong, some- 
what pilose ; stipules obliquely ovate-lanceolate, ciliate ; peduncles 
axillary, 2 - 3-flowered ; legumes broad, short, finely reticulated, smooth, 
2-seeded ; seeds lenticular. 

Lentil. 

Fr. La Lentille. Germ. Gemeine Linse. Span. Lenteja. 

Eoot annual. Stem 6-12 inches high. Leaflets 3-6 or 8 pairs, half an inch long ; ten- 
drils nearly simple. Corolla white or pale purple. Legume about half an inch long. Seeds 

2, orbicular, compressed, white or tawny yellow. 

Gardens : cultivated. Native of Europe. i^L June - July. i^V. August. 

Ohs. This Yetch is cultivated in the old world, chiefly, I believe, as 
food for stock, — both herbage and seeds serving that purpose. The 
plant is sometimes seen in gardens here ; but it will scarcely command 
me attention of American agriculturists. "When properly cooked, len- 
tils are a tolerable substitute for beans ; they are much prized as food 

5* 



100 



WIJLDS AXD USEFUL PLAXT6. 



by the Mexicans, and form the basis of the " Linsen Soup " of the Ger- 
mans. It appears from Dr. J . D. Hookeb.'s Notes, that the seeds of this 
plant are sometimes called •• Gram." in India ; but that name is believed 
to be more usually applied to the seeds of Cicer. 

12. PI'SUM, Tournef. Pea. 

[The Latin name for the common Pea.] 

Calyx-segments foliaeeous, the two upper ones shorter. Vexillum large, 
reflexed. Style compressed, keeled, villous on the upper maigin. Le- 
gume oblong. Seeds numerous, globose, with an orbicular hilum. 
1. P. SATi'vuM, L. Leaflets rhomboid-ovate, rather obtuse, mucronate, 
entire ; stipules very large, ovate, semi-sagittate, creuate-dentate at base ; 
peduncles 2 or many-flowered ; legumes subcarnose. 
Cultivated Pisum. Pea. Garden-pea. 
Fr. Pois cultive. Germ. Gemeine Erbse. Span. Guisante. 

Plant smootli and glaucous. Root annual. 5'i<'7?i 1-3 or 4 feet long ; flaccid, climbing 
by tendrils. Leaflets usually 2 pairs, 1-2 or 3 inches long; tendrils long and branch- 
ing ; stipules larger than the leaflets. Peduncles axillary, 1 or 2-6 inches long, often with 
two flowers at sammit. CoroUa white. Style reflexed. Legume about two inches long, 
subterete. 

Gardens and lots : cultivated. Xatire country unknown. Ft June - July. Fr. July - 
August. 

Obs. Several varieties of this are cultivated (one or more of them 
in almost every garden), chiefly for the young seeds, or " green peas." 
which afford a favorite dish at table. In the Xorthern states, the Held 
cultm^e of Peas (for the mature seeds.) is much attended to ; but it is 
rarely seen in Pennsylvania — or, I believe, south of that. The Sweet 
Pea and the Everlasting Pea, cultivated for ornament, belong to the 
genus Lathyrus of the same tribe. 

13. YIC'IA, Tournef. Yetch. 

[The ancient Latin name for Vetch or Tare.] 

Calyx 5-cleft, or 5-toothed, the two upper teeth shorter. Style filiform, 
bent; stigma villous. Legume oblong, mostly many-seeded. Seeds 
with the hilum lateral. 

1. Y. SATi'vA, L. Annual ; stem simple ; leaflets 5-7 pairs, obovate- 
oblong to linear, refuse, mucronate ; flowers mostly in pairs, nearly 
sessile. 

Cultivated Yicia. Common Yetch. Tare. 

Stem 1-3 feet long, procumbent or climbing by tendrils. Leaflets % of an inch to an 
inch and a hah" in length. Flov-ers violet purple, axillary. 
Cultivated grounds. Native of Europe. June -August. 

Ohs. This species was formerly much cultivated, and seems still to 
be highly prized, in Europe, as a fodder for cattle ; but in this country 
it is regarded as a mere weed. 



PULSE FAMILY. 



107 



14. PHASE'OLUS, L. Bean. 

[The ancieut name of the Kidney Beau.] 

Ca/yx somewhat bilabiate,-the upper lid bifid or emargina te, the lower one 
trifid. Keel (of the corolla) together with the stamens and style, spirally 
tvvisted or incurved. Ovary stipitate, the stipe sheathed. Legume linear 
or falcate, compressed or sabterete, tipped with the base of the style, man}^- 
seeded. Seeds reniform, with an oval-obioug- liilam. Leaves trifoliolate. 

1. P. yulga'kis, Savi. Stem mostly volabile ; leaflets ovate acumi- 
nate ; racemes soUtary, pedunculate ; bracts as long as the calyx ; le- 
gumes nearly linear and straight, long-nmcronate ; seeds reniform. 
Common Phaseolus. Kidney Bean. String Bean. Pole Bean. 

Fr. Haricot. Germ. Gcmeiue Bohne. Span. Fasoles. 

Boot annual. Sfem 4-6 or 8 feet long, slender, volubile and climbing (always twining, 
against the sun — W. S. E.) — cr short and erect (in the bunch variety). Leaflets 2-4 or 5 
inches long ; common petioles 1-5 or 6 inches long. Eacemes on stout peduncles 1-3 or 4 
Inches long. CoroHa mostly white. Le^fitme 3-6 inches long. Seeds more or less reni- 
form, whitish, or of various colors. 

Gardens and lots : cultivated. Native of India. Fl. Juno -August. Fr. September. 

Obs. Very generally cultivated for the table, — both seeds and le- 
gumes being eaten while young ; when mature, the seeds only. The 
" baked beans " of New England, constitute a sort of national dish 
among the descendants of the Pilgrims. 

The P. NANUS, L. Dwarf or Bunch Bean (with a short erect stem, 
more acuminate leaflets, and larger bracts), is supposed to be only one 
of the many varieties produced by long culture. 

2. P. Luna'tus, L. Stem volubile, smoothisli ; leaflets obliquely- or 
deltoid-ovate, acute ; racemes subpedunculate ; bracts shorter than the 
calyx ; legumes broad, compressed, scymitar-form or somewhat lunate ; 
seeds much compressed, broad. 

Lunate Phaseolus. Lima Bean. Carolina Bean. 

Root annual. Stem 6-8 or 10 feet long, branching, slender, volubile and climbing. LeaJ- 
?€ts 2 - 4 inches long ; common petioles 2-6 inches long. Racemes loose flowered, on pedun- 
cles about two-thirds of an inch long. Corolla greenish-white, rather small. Legumes 
2-3 inches long, and about an inch wide. Seeds few, large, flattish and mostly white. 

Gardens and lots : cultivated. Fl. July -August. Fr. September - October. 

Ohs. This species (supposed to be a native of Bengal — though gen- 
erally named as if of South America,) affords a favorite dish, in the 
latter part of summer,— the large seeds only being used. Both species 
are tender plants, impatient of cold, and killed by the slightest frost. 

15. BAPTIS'IA, Vent. False Indigo. 

[Greek, Baptizo, to dip, or dye ; from its coloring properties.] 

Calyx 4-5-toothed. Petals nearly equal,— the keel-petals slightly 
connected. Stamens 10, distinct. Legume ventricose, stipitate in the 
persistent calyx, many-seeded. Herbs ; leaves mostly trifoliolate, turn- 
ing bluish-black in drying. 



108 



WEEDS AXD USEFUL PLAXTS. 



I, B. tincto'ria, R- Brown. Bushy; smooth, and rather glaucous; 
leaflets cuneate-obovate : stipules subulate, deciduous ; racemes termi- 
nal, few-flowered. 

Dyer's Baptisia. Wild Indigo. Horse-fly "Weed. Battle Bush. 

Perennial. Stem about 2 feet high, much brauched. Lea He's ha\^ an inch to an inch 
loug ; common petioles 1 hne to >^ of an inch iii length. Flowers yellow ; cal^^■.T 4-tootheil — 
the 2 upper segments being united. Legumes about half an incli long, inliated, conspicu- 
ously stipitate. 

Dry hills and woodlands : common. June - September. 

Obs. The Wild Indigo, which is introduced here on account of its re- 
puted medicinal qualities, is conspicuous when in flower, especially in 
sandy woods and fields. It is said that a coarse kind of Indigo can be 
prepared from it> loavc>. Init we know of no reliable experiments upon 
this point. Medlciiiaily. it is said to possess emetic and pura-ative prop- 
erties, and has been used exteriially as an application in foul ulcers. It 
is often used to drive flies away from horses, being attached to their 
harness, hence one of the common names ; it is probable that its efficacy 
in this case, if there be any, is wholly mechanical, and not due to any 
peculiar property of the plant. Several other speci,es are found in the 
South and West ; among these is B. australis, Tv. i>r6 which is 
often cultivated, — it is 4 - 5 feet high, with large racemes, 1-2 feet 
long, — of handsome blue flowers. 

16. CER'CIS, L. Red-bud. 

[Greek, Kerkis, a weaver's shuttle ; from the form of the legume.] 

Calyx 5-toothed, Corolla scarcely papilionaceous ; petals all distinct, uu- 
guiculate, — the vexillum smaller than the wings, and the keel-petals 
larger. Stmncns unequal. Legume oblong, acute at each end. much 
compressed, 1-celled, many-seeded, — the upper suture margined, seeds 
obovate ; radicle straight. Small trees, with simple entire leaves, and 
membranaceous caducous stipules. Flowers fasciculate along the 
branches, appearing before the leaves. 

1. C. Canadeil'sis, L. Leaves orbicular-cordate, acuminate, villous in 
the axils of the nerves beneath. 
Canadian Cercis. Red-bud. Judas-tree. 

Stemlo-20 or 30 feet high and 6-12 inches in diameter, with somewhat geniculate 
branches. Leaves 'S- 4: inches long ; petioles 1-2 inches loug. Flowers bright purple, 
acid, on filiform jyedicels which are clustered (4-6 or S from a bud) ou the naked branches- 
I^umes about three inches long, subcoriaceoiis, smooth. 

Banks of streams : Canada to"" Louisiana. Fl. April. Fr. June. 

Ohs. This little tree is admired, in early spring, for its clusters of 
small flowers, which clothe the branches, and even the trunk, in purple, 
before the leaves appear. Although not of agricultural importance, it 
deserves to be known, and to have a place among ornamental shrubbery 
and trees, around the mansion of the tasteful farmer. 



PULSE fa:milt. 



lOD 



17. CAS'SIA, L. Sexxa. 

[An ancient name of obscure derivation.] 

Flowers perfect , Sepals 5, scarcely connected. Petals 5, unequal, spread- 
inof, not papilionaceous. Stamens mostly 10, some of them often imper- 
fect ; anthers opening at apex. Herbs : leaves equally pinnate, with a 
gland near the base of the petiole. 

* Leaflets large; stipules deciduous: the lower anthers fertile, the 3 upper 
ones deformed and sterile. 




1. C. Marilan'dica, L. Perennial ; stem erect, leaflets 6-9 pairs, 
ovate oblong ; petiole with a club-shaped gland near the base ; racemes 
axillary, the upper ones somewhat paniculate ; legumes at first hairy* 
at length smooth. 

Martlaxd Cassia. AVild, or American Senna. 



Sfrf-m 3-4 ff-ot hieh. rath'^r -tout, 'branchirit'. Lmflets 1-2 inches long, petiolulate 
common p'^i'Aes 1-2 \ri( ]i }^ in 1 -'i-rh h- low th'-- leaflets, with an obovoid subsessile i^Zand 
on the upper si'ie. liaxenr: ■ • in the upper axils forming a sort of ter- 

minal leafy panicle : /'//v/er ming a dead white. Legumes 3 - 4 inchas 

long, villous whf-n yoijn if. ' , ii t curverl, often sinuate on the edges from 

partial contractions : fc/l; ov,i[ ■ . - jl'. - ^. u-ated by a kind of transverse partitions. 

Low grounds along streams : frcqiient. August -October. 

Obs. This very showy species is found in most parts of the United 
States ; its leaves po.ssess properties similar to those of the imported 
Senna of the shops — which is also furnished by several species of the ge- 



FiG. 78. Wild Senna (Cassia 3Iarilandica) , a short raceme in tho axil of an abruptly- 
pinnate leaf. 



110 



WEEDS AND LSEFUL PLANTS. 



Qiis Cassia. While some writers state, that it requires a third larger 
dose than the imported seuna, to produce the same effect, others claim for 
it ail equal rank as a purgative. It is cultivated to considerable extent 
by the " Shakers," and though it has not received the general attention 
at the hands of the medical profession that it deserves, it is frequently 
used in domestic and country practice. The leaves should be collected 
when the fruit is ripe, the active principle being then more fully develop- 
ed than at the flowering time. 

2. C, occidentalism L, Leaflets 4 -'6 pairs, ovate lanceolate acute; 
gland ovate ; pods elongated-linear, smooth. 

Western Cassia. Styptic Weed. 

Perennial. jS^m 4 -6 feet high. ieo/Zefe serrate-ciholate. i^Zotoers large, yellow. Le- 
gume somewhat coriaceous, about 5 inches long, with a tumid border ; 20-30-seeded. 
Near buildings : Virginia to Louisiana. July- October. 

06s. This plant, which ic very common at the South, is believed to be 
introduced from Tropical America, where it has some medicinal reputa- 
tion. The root is said to be diuretic, and the leaves are used as a dress- 
ing to slight sores. * 

LeajleU small, somewhat sensitive to the touch : stipules persistent ; petio- 
lar gland cup-shaped ; anthers all perfect. 

3. C. Chamsecris'ta, L. Stems spreading ; leaflets 8-15 pairs, linear 
oblong ; flowers large and showy ; stamens 10, unequal. 

Partridge Pea. Sensitive Pea. Magothy-bay Bean. 

sum 1-2 feet high, firm and somewhat woody at base, much branched, often purplish. 
Leaflets half an inch to near an inch long, minutely cihate-serrulate, subsessile ; common 
jpeiioZes about one-third of an inch in length' below the leaflets , with a depressed or cup- 
like gland on the upper side. Flowers deep bright yellow (usually with purple spots at 
base), in lateral subsessile fascicles above the axils of the leaves — often in pairs, some- 
times 3-4. Legume about 2 inches long, hairy along the sutures. 

Sandy fields : common, especially southward. July -September. 

Ohs. In a paper read before the American Philosophical Society, May 
2, 1788, and published in the 3d volume of their Transactions, Dr. Green- 
way of Virginia, speaks favorably of this plant as a means of recruiting 
worn out lands, by its decomposition in the soil, — though he considers 
the common corn-field Pea as preferable ; and I have no doubt that the 
Eed Clover (Trifolium pratense), properly managed, is more eligible 
than either. 

18. GYMNO'CLADUS, Lam. Kex\tucky Coffee-teee. 

[Greek, Gymnos, naked, and Klados, a branch ; in reference to its stout naked branches.] 

Flowers dioecious, regular. Calyx tubular, 5-cleft. Petals 5, equal, ob- 
long, inserted on the calyx-tube. Stamens 10, distinct, inserted with the 
petals. Legume oblong, flat, the valves thick and woody, pulpy within. 
A tree with the young branches clumsily thick ; leaves odd-bipinnate. 



rULSE FAMILY. 



Ill 



i. G. Caiiaden'sis, Lam. Leaflets 7-13 on the subdivisiuus, ovate, 
petiolulate, — the lowest a single pair ; flowers in axillary racemes. 

Caxadiax GYiixocLADus. Kentucky Coffee-tree. Kentucky Mahogany 

Steilt 50-SO feet high, branching. Leaves 2-3 feet long, bipinnately branching ; leaf- 
lets rather alternate, entire, about 3 inches in length. Flowers greenish white. Legumes 
6-10 inches long, and 1-2 inches wide, somewhat falcate ; seeds nearly orbicular, a little 
compressed, over half an inch in diameter. 

Rich woods : W. New York to Illinois and south-westward ; also in cultivation. Fl. 
May. Fr. October. 

Obs. This fine tree has been introduced into the Eastern States, from 
the West ; and although not equal to some others, as a shade tree, is 
worthy of a place in all ornamental plantations. The timber is valuable, 
possessing a fine and close grain ; qualities w^hich adapt it to the use of 
the cabinet-maker. 

19. GLEDIT'SCHIA, L, Honey Locust. 

[Named in honor of John Gottlieb GlcdiU.ch, a German Botanist.] 

Flowers polygamous. Sepals 3-5, equal, united at base. Petals as 
many as the sepals, — or fewer by abortion — or by the union of the two 
lower ones. Stamens as many as the sepals and opposite them, or by 
abortion fewer. Legume stipitate, often intercepted internally between 
the seeds, dry or with sweet pulp around the seeds. Seeds oval. Trees : 
the super-axillary branchlets often converted into simple or branched 
spines. Leaves even-pinnate or bipinuate (often both forms on the same 
tree.) Flowers small, somewhat spicate. 

1. G. triacan'thos, L. Spines stout, mostly triple ; leaflets linear or 
lance-oblong, somewhat serrate ; legumes oblong, much compressed, 
somewhat falcate and undulate, many-seeded, — the intervals filled with 
sweet pulp. 

Three-thokned Gleditschia. Honey-locust. Three-thorned Acacia. 
Fr. Le Fevier a trois Epiues. Germ. Der Honigdorn. 

Stem 30-50 or 60 feet high, and 2-3 or 4 feet in diameter. Leaflets about an inch or an 
inch and a half long. Flowers yellowish green. Legumes 12 or lb inches long, and an 
inch or more in width, thin and wavy, or somewhat twisted. 

Pennsylvania to Louisiana : often cultivated. Fl. July. Fr. September -October. 

Ghs. The light foliage of this tree gives it a pleasing aspect, but it is 
not a good shade tree. It is in frequent cultivation as an ornamental 
tree, and seems to be nearly naturalized around New- York. It has been 
used with success in some localities for hedging, its formidable thorns 
compensating, by their utility, for the beauty which a hedge with such 
light foliage must lack. The thorns are knocked ofi" by the winds and, 
being often so compound that however they may lie, some points will 
■Gtick up. prove very troublesome by wounding the feet of cattle. 



112 



F.EDS AXD USEFUL FLAZS'TS. 



Oeder XXYI. KOSA'CE^. (Rose Family.) 

Frees, shrub's or lierlis with alternate stij)ulate leaves, and regular j?oicers having a calyx of a 
(rarely 3-4 or 8) sepals more or less united, often wiili as many bracts, and pdals as 
many as the sepals, inserted with the numerous (rarely few) sMmens on the cah'x. FisiUs 
1-many, free, or (in the Pear trihe) united within the calyx-tube. ' Seeds 1-few io. each 
ovary, without aTbumeii ; radtd€ straight. 

This' Order — comprising about sixty genera — is remarkable for the amount and variety 
of its esculent products. ]!ilany of the fruits are valuable, and some of them eminently 
dehcious, while the type of the Order (Rosa) is by universal consent regarded as the 
queen of beauty among flowers. A few of the drupaceous species of the Order contain a 
dangerous quantity of Frussic Acid, in the nuts and leaves : but the fleshy or succulent 
fruits are, almost without exception, iimocent and wholesome. 

1. The Almoxd Sub-fam:ily. 

Ovaries sohtary, free from the deciduous calyx. Style torminal. Fruit 
a drupe (stone-fruit). Trees or shrubs ; the bark exuding gum ; the 
bark, leaves and kernels possessing the 'pecuhar flavor of prussic acid. 
Stipules free. 

Stone of the fruit rough. Petals rose-color. 1. 
Stone of the fruit smooth. Petals white. 



Persica. 
Armenia CA. 



Stone flattened, with grooved edges. Skin of fruit downy. 
Stone more or less flattened, generally margined. 

Fruit with a bloom. 3. Pkt-sts. 

Stone roundish or globular. Fruit without a bloom. 3. Frt::sts. 

2. The Eose Sub-familt. 

Ovaries many or few, separate from each other and from the calyx, 
out sometimes enclosed by and concealed in its tube. Styles lateral 
or terminal. Fruit either follicles or httle drupes. Herbs or shrubs, 
rarely trees, with simple or compound leaves. Stipules usually united 
with the petiole. 

Pistils 5, forming foUicles in fruit. Calyx 5-cleft. Styles terminal. 4. 
Pistils mimerous, forming in fruit dry akenes, tipped with the feathery 

persistent style. Calyx bracteolate, open. 5. 
Pistils numerous. Styles often lateral, deciduous ; fruit of dry akenes. 
Calyx bracteolate, open. 

Receptacle of the fruit dry and small. 6. 
Receptacle of the fruit becoming large and pulpy, edible. 7. 
Pistils numerous. Styles terminal, deciduous : ovaries becoming little 
drupes, cohering with one another or with' the receptacle. Calyx 
open, not bracteolate. S. 
Pistils numerous, akenes long, enclosed in the tube of the urn-shaped 
calyx. 9. 

3. Pear Sub-family. 

Calyx-tube fleshy in fruit, forming a pome. Pistils 2-5, their styles 
more or less separate, their ovaries imited with each other and with 
the tube of the calyx. 

Cells of the hmt 1 - 2-seeded. Fruit drups-like, containing 2-5 stones. 

Leaves simple. 10. 
Fruit with 3-5 parchment-hke carpels. Leaves pinnate. Fruit berry- 



Sphlea. 
Geoi. 



POiE-VliLLA. 

Fragakia. 



RrEus. 
Rosa. 



CRATiCrS. 

Pyrus. § 3. 

Frars. 
PvRrs. $2. 



like, scarlet. 11. 
Leaves simple. 

Fruit tapering to the stalk. 11. 
Fruit sunk in at both ends. 11. 

Cells of the fruit many-seeded, parchment-hke, enveloped in mnci- 

lage. ' 12. CirDoxiA. 

1. PER'SIOA, Tournef. Peach. 

[A name derived from' Persia, its native country.] 

CaJyx tubular, Avitli 5 spreading segments. Drupe oral, tomentose or 



EOSE FAMILY. 



113 



Bnjooth, the fleshy and succulent pulp adherent or separable from the 
rugosely furrowed nut. Small trees. Leaves lanceolate, serrate, condu- 
plicate in Yeruation. Flowers subsessile, solitary or in pairs, preceding 
the leaves. 

1. P. yulgar'is, 3IilL Fruit densely tomentose. 
Common Peesica. Peach. Peach-tree. 

Fr. Le Pecher. Germ. Der Pfirschenbaum. Span. El Melocoton. 

.S^fern- 8 - 12 or 15 feet high, branching. Leaves 3-5 inches long ; petioles half an inch 
long, channeled above and glandular near the leaf. Petals pale red or purphsh. Drupe 
with the flesh white, yellow or reddish, either adhering to the nut, and then called Cling- 
stone, or separable from it — when it is termed Freestone. 

Cultivated. Native of Persia. FL April. Fr. Aug. - Sept. 

Obs. The fruit of this tree, like most of those which have had the 
advantage of long and careful culture, presents numerous varieties, 
the best of which have been perpetuated under distinctive names by the 
nurserymen ; such as George the 4th," " Morris White," &c. These 
kinds, the number of which is rather formidable, will be found described 
in standard works upon Horticulture, and in fruit growers' Catalogues. 
Although the tree is short-lived, its culture is managed with great spirit 
and success in the Middle States, particularly in Maryland, Delaware, 
and New J ersey ; and latterly, with the facilities alforded by steamers, 
our northern cities are supplied, early in the season, from as far south 
as Georgia. The most approved varieties are perpetuated by raising 
young stocks from the seeds, and inserting upon them the buds or scions 
of the desirable kinds. * 

This process, for changing the character of seedling trees, is alluded 
to by the great English Bard with his usual felicity : 

" You see, we marry 

A gentler scion to the wildest stock. 

Aid make conceive a bark of baser kind, 

By bud of nobler race : This is an art 

Which does mend nature — change it rather ; but 

The art itself is nature." — Winter'' s Tale, Act. 4. 

Var. L^'vis. Fruit smooth. 
Nectarine. 

The Nectarine, which was formerly considered as a distinct species, 
is now regarded as only a very marked variety of the Peach, from which 
it differs only in its smooth fruit, which presents the same varieties of 
ding-stone and f ree-sto7ie. Cases are recorded, in which the sajne tree has 
produced both Peaches and Nectarines. 

The Almond [Amygdalus communis, L., which is nearly related to 
the Peach — except that the drupe is dry and fibrous, instead of succu- 
lent, and the seed is the eatable portion), has not yet, I believe, been 
much cultivated within the U. States : but it may probably be success- 
fully introduced into Florida, and perhaps some other southern States, it 
having succeeded even in Pennsylvania. 

A dwarf variety, with the flowers all double and sterile, is well known 



114 



"WEEDS AXD USEFUL PLAXTS. 



as aL ornamental slirub in gardens,, as the Flowering Almond. There 
are two marked varieties of the Almond : the one with sweet bland 
seeds. Sweet Almond ; and the Bitter Almond, the kernel of which con- 
tains a bitter volatile oil impregnated with prussic acid. This oii, which 
is often used for flavoring pastry, &c., exists, or one very nearly like it, 
in the peach kernel. Judging from observation, it would not seem to be 
generally known to our Pastry Cooks, that a peach pie baked with the 
fruit whole (i. e. simply pared, but the nut left in the peach), is vastly, 
superior to one made of the mere fleshy portion cut in pieces. The 
process of baking, as I suppose, elicits the essential oil from the seed of 
the peach and diffuses it through the pulp, imparting to it a sprightly 
and delicious flavor, far beyond what it possesses when the stone is 
previously rejected. 

2. AEMENIA'CA, Tournef. Apeicot. 

[A Bame derived from Armenia, its native country.] 

Calyx campanulate, with 5 reflexed segments. Drupe roundish-oval, 
fleshy, clothed with a soft velvety pubescence ; nut compressed, the sur- 
face even and not roughly furrowed ; one margin obtuse, the other acute, 
both gTOOved. Small trees. Leaves subcordate or ovate, convolute in the 
bud. Flowers white, subsessile, solitary or few, preceding the leaves. 

1. A. vulga'eis. Lam. Leaves orbicular-ovate, acuminate, dentate, sub- 
cordate at base ; flowers sessile. 

CoMMOx Ar-mexiaca. Common Apricot. ]Moor-park Apricot. 
Fr. L'Abricotier. Germ. Der Aprikosenbaum. Span. Albaricoque. 

Stem 10-15 or 20 feet high, with rather stout spreading branches. Leaves 2-3 inches 
long ; petioles an inch to an inch and a hah" long, mostly with cup-hke glands near the base 
of the leaf. Petals white. Drupe oval, yeliowisli when mature. 

Cultivated. Native of Armenia. Fl. April. Fr. July. 

Obs. This tree yields a luscious and favorite fruit ; and, in propitious 
seasons, the branches are so loaded as to remind one of the admonitory 
passage in Shakspeaee : 

" Go, bind thou up yon' dangling Apricocks, 
Which, like unruly children, make their sire 
Stoop vVith oppression of their prodigal weight : 
Give some supportance to the bending twigs." 

King Richard TI 

The name of this fruit in Shakspeaees time was written "Apricocks," 
perhaps by a corruption of the latin A.prcEcox, meaning Early Armeniaca. 
It is melancholy to reflect how thoughtless and negligent mankind 
generally are, with respect to providing fruit for themselves. There are 
few persons who do not own or occupy sufiicient ground to admit of 3 
or 4 choice fruit-trees and a grape-vine ; such, for example, as an Apricot, 
a Peach, a May-duke Cherry, a Catharine Pear, and a Catawba grape ; 
yet the great majority seem never to think of planting such trees, while 



EOSE FAMILY. 



115 



they are ready enough to run after the rare fruit which some provident 
neighbor may have taken the pains to cultivate. It is high time that 
such disreputable negligence should cease, and that people should be 
more attentive to duties which are enjoined by every consideration of 
comfort and good taste — nay, even of sheer justice to those around them, 
who are now annually plundered of the fruits of their own care and 
labors. 

2. A. dastcar'pa, Pers. Leaves ovate or oval, somewhat acuminate, 
doubly serrate ; flowers pedicellate. 
Hairy-fkuited Aemeniaca. Black Apricot. 

stem 10-15 feet high; branches rather slender and virgate. Leaves \% to near 3 inches 
long ; 2'^etioles about an inch long. Petals white. Drupe subglobose, hairy, dark purplish 
color when mature. 

^ Cultivated. Native conntry unknown. Fl. April. Fr. July. 

Obs. This species has more of the habit of a Prunus, or Plum-tree, 
than the preceding, and is reputed to be a more certain fruit-bearer ; 
but I have not found it so. It flowers freely ; but the young fruit is 
Eoou stung by an insect, and nearly all falls off before it is half grown. 

3. PEU'NUS, i. Plum and Cherry. 

* [The Latin name for the Plum.] 

Calyx 5-cleft. Petals 5, spreading. Stamens 15-30. Ovary with 2 
pendulous ovules. Drupe fleshy ; stone smooth and even. Small trees 
or shrubs. Flowers usually white. 

[The Plum and Cherry are in most works considered as distinct genera ; we follow Dr. 
Gray and other recent authorities in arranging them as sections of the genus Prunus of 
Linnaeus.] 

§1. Prunus, Town. (Plum.) Drupe usually with a bloom; the stone 
flattened, or at least wider than thick ; leaves convolute in the bud ; flowers 
more or less preceding the leaves, from lateral buds; the pedicels few or 
several, in simple umbellate clusters. 

* Introduced or cultivated species. 
1. P. spiNo'sA, L. Branches thorny ; leaves obovate oblong or ovate- 
lanceolate, sharply serrate, at length glabrous ; pedicels glabrous ; fruit 
small, globular, black with a bloom, the stone turgid acute on one edge. 
Sloe. Black Thorn. 

Yar. insiti'tia. Less spiny, the lateral branches often ending in a thorn ; 
pedicels and lower side of the leaves pubescent ; fruit round and black. 
Bullace Plum. 
Waste places. E. New England, &c. 

Yar. domes'tica. Branches unarmed ; leaves lance-ovate or oval, mostly 
acute, serrate ; pedicels sub-solitary. 
. Common Plum. Damascene, Gage, &c. 
Fr. Prunier. Germ. Der Pflaumenbaum. Span. Ciruelo. 

Stew 8 - 12 or 15 feet high, branching. Leaves 1-3 inches long ; petioles half an inch to as 



116 



WEEDS AND USEFUL PLANTS. 



inch or more in length. Flowers rather preceding the leaves, solitary or in pairs \pedic^ 
about half an inch long. Peto?s white. Z)ritpe oval, ovoid or obovoid, of various colors, 
from black to pale greenish-yellow, covered with bloom, the flesh rather firm. 
Cultivated. Fl. April. l<r. August. 

Ohs. Numerous forms of this are cultivated, — some of them of a large 
size ; but the depredations of insects render the fruit an uncertain crop — 
at least in the countrj^ In cities, the insects seem to be less destruc- 
tive. The Sloe is used in Europe for hedges, and is said to be natural- 
ized in some parts of the United States ; it is now considered as the 
original of the numerous varieties of cultivated plum and of the Bullace 
Plum. 

^'^ Indigenous species. 

2. P. America "iia, Marsh. Branches subspinose ; leaves oval and 
obovate, conspicuously acuminate, sharply and often doubly serrate, 
ver}^ veiny, smooth when old ; umbels subsessile, 2 - 5-flowered ; fruit* 
roundish, oval, yellow, orange or red, nearly destitute of bloom ; the tur- 
gid stone more or less acute on both margins. 

Amekican Prunus. Ked Plum. Tellow Plum. 

Steva. 8-12 or 15 feet high, much branched, — the young branches virgate, the old ones 
rugged and somewhat thorny. Leaves 2-3 inches long ; petioles one fourth to half an 
inch long. Flowers preceding the leaves in numerous fasci-cles of threes or fours ; pedicels 
one third to half an inch long. Petals white. Drupe mostly reddish orange-colored, with 
a rich succulent j^ellow pulp, and a thicis tough skin. 

Thickets, fence-rows and banks of streams. Canada to Texas. i^'L April. i?'r. August. 

Obs. This Plum — about which foreign Botanists have been so bewil- 
dered — is extensively diffused through our country. In its wild state, 
the flowers are apt to be abortive, — and the fruit is small and rather 
acerb ; but by long culture, the drupe sometimes becomes as large as a 
common Apricot. Although of a pleasant flavor, when fully mature, it 
is not adapted to culinary purposes. 

3. P. mari'tima, Wang. Seldom thorny ; leaves ovate or oval, finely 
serrate, softly pubescent underneath ; pedicels short, pubescent ; fruit 
globular, purple or crimson, with a bloom. 

Beach Plum. Sand Plum. 

Alow straggling sTirtd) 2-5 feet high. Leaves 2 -o inches long, rather stiff, smooth 
above, and downy, especially on the mid-rib and veins, beneath. Flowers in umbels of 2- 
6 ; pedicels % an inch long ; calyx pubescent. Fruit an inch to an inch in diameter ; 
stone very turgid, acute on one edge, rounded and minutely grooved on the other. 

Near the sea : Massachusetts to Virginia. Fl. May. Fr. Aug. - Sept. 

Ohs. This species is found along the sea-coast and often extends inland 
for twenty miles or more. When growing at a distance from the sea, its 
leaves are smoother and thinner and the fruit smaller, — forms which have 
been considered as distinct varieties or even species. The bush grows 
in little thickets and is in exposed situations nearly prostrate. The fruit 
varies in quality, often, when fully ripe, of an agreeable flavor ; it ia 
much used for preserving along the New England coast and is sometimes 
sold in the markets. * 

4. P Chica'sa, Mx. Branches subspinose; leaves narrow, oblong 



EOSE FAMTLF. 



117 



lanceolate or oblanceolate, acute, finely serrulate with glao J ilar-pointed 
teeth ; umbels sessile, 2 - 3-flowered ; fruit globular, re^'i ; the stone 
ovoid, almost as thick as wide, rounded at both suturer;, cue of them 
minutely grooved. 

Chicasa Peuxus. Chickasaw Plum. Mountain Cherry. 

stem Q -10 or 12 feet high, much branched, the young branches v'rgate, dark purple, 
smooth and shining, the old ones crooked or geniculate, and sojiov/hat thorny. Leaves 
1 -2 inches long, smooth ; petoZe5 slender, one fourth to three fjurths of an inch long. 
-F/owers appearing with the leaves, in sessile fascicles of three j ; pedicels about half au 
inch long, slender and smooth. Drupe globose, red or yell/ / ish-red, nearly or quite 
destitute of bloom, with a tender pulp and a thin skin. 

Cultivated. Fl. April. Fr. July. 

~ Ohs. This little tree (which is believed to be ?>, native of our South- 
western territory, — where it is a small shrub, m its wild state, — ) by 
long culture produces a very pleasant fruit. When we ooa^ider the 
great difficulty attending the" culture of the common pl?ir/ , oa account 
of the attacks of the curculio, it would seem that this es.d iLa other na- 



tive species should receive more attention from our horticulturists than 
has yet been bestowed upon them. It approaches the Cherry, in char- 
acter and appearance, and may be considered as a connecting link be- 
tween the Plum & Cherry. 

§2. Ceeasus, (Cherry). Fruit destitute of bloom ; the stone globular and 
marginless ; leaves folded [conduplicate) in the bud ; flowers in umbellate 
clusters. 

5. P. a'vium, L. Branches erect or ascending, rather stout ; leaves 




Fig. 79. A flower of the common Garden Cherry (Prunus avium). 80. A divided 
flower with its sohtary pistil free from the calyx. 81. The fruit (drupe) divided to sho\r 
tlie hardened iniieT portion of the fruit (stone) containing the seed. 



lis 



^YEED3 AXD USEFUL PLAIvIB. 



oval or obovatc-oblong, acuminate, coarse^.y serrate, pilose ani some- 
■w'liat glaucous beneath ; umbels sessile ; flowers scarcely preceding the 
leaves ; pedicels rather long ; drupe roundish ovoid or subcordate at 
base. 

Birds' Pevxus. English Cherry. Bleeding-heart, &c. 
Ft. Le Cerisier. Germ. Der Kirsclibaum. Span. Gerezo. 

^6771 30-60 feet or more in height, and often 2-3 feet in diameter at base. bra;;ching 
regularly, and somewhat verticillately, so as to form an ohlong conical top. Leaves o - 5 
or 6 inches long ; petioles an inch to an inch and a half long. Pedkels slender, an inch to an 
inch and a half long, usually 3 (often 2) in a fascicle. Petals white. Dnq^es of various size 
and color, tender and often very succulent, sweet or bitterish-sweet. 

Cultivated. Fl. April Fr. June - July. 

Ohs. Cherries are said to have been originally brought to Eome from 
Cerasus, a city of Pontus, by the Boman Consul and General, Lucullus, 
some 60 or 70 years before the Christian era ; and from Rome they have 
been distributed over the rest of the civihzed world. Our cultivated 
Cherry trees seem obviously to consist of at least two original species, — 
vis. the sweet English Cherry," so called, — and the common Sour 
Cherry. The numerous varieties — produced by culture (and possibly 
some hybrids)— may be all referred to one or the other of those two. 
There are, undoubtedly, several very distinct sorts of fruit ; but I incline 
to think the general habit and aspect of the trees commonly seen in this 
country, warrant the reduction of them all to 'the two above referred 
to ; and I shall so consider them in this work. 

6. P. Ce'easus, L. Branches spreading, slender and flexible ; leaves 
obovate and ovate-lanceolate, mostly narrowed at base, acuminate or 
acute, serrate, smoothish ; umbels subsessile ; flowers rather preceding 
the leaves ; pedicels rather short ; drupe globose. 
Bed or Sour Cherry, Morello Cherry, &c. 

S'em 10-20 feet high, irregularly branched : branches rather slender and flaccid, spread- 
ing nearly horizontally, and forming a roundish bushy top. Leaves l>^-3 inches long; 
petioles half an inch to an inch long. Pedicels half an inch to an inch in length, 2, or more 
frequently 3, in a fascicle. Petals white. Drupes fleshy, more or less acid, red or dark 
purple when mature. 

Cuhivated. Fl. April. Fr. July. 

05s. The " Sour Cherry'' is the most common and, for culinary pur- 
poses, the most valuable of the genus. The Morello Cherry is a re- 
markably fine variety, with a rich purple juice. — and in the days of 
*• Cherry Bounce," was a great favorite : but, for the last 30 years it 
has almost entirely disappeared from Pennsylvania, in consequence of the 
ravages of an insect, causing large warty excrescences on the branc hes 
of the tree. The fruit first failed, — and since, the tree itself has become 
very scarce. P. Pennsylvanica, ^-j the wild Red Cherry, is a native 
tree belonging to this section, its fruit small, sour and worthless. 

I 3. Padus, (Cheeey.) Fruit as in 'preceding section ; flowers in racemes 
terminating the branches, developed after the flowers. 



E03E FAMILY. 



119 



7. P. Virg'inia'na, L. Leaves oval, oblong' or obovate, abruptly 
acuminate, sharply and often doubly serrate ; fruit red, turning to dark 
crimson. 

Virginian Prunxs. Choke Cherry. 

A tall shruh. Leaves 2-4 inches long, thinn;sh. Flayers in simple racemes 2-3 inches 
in length : petals roundish. Fruit about the size of a pea, very austere and astringent 
until perfectly ripe. 

River banks : most common northward. Fl. May. Fr. August. 

Obs. Doct. Crray found from the examination of the original speci- 
mens in the Linnseau Herbarium that this is the true P. Yirginiana, a 
name which had been previously applied to the following species. 

8. P. sero'tina, Ehrhart. Leaves oblong, or lance-oblong, acuminate, 
smooth, shining above, finely serrate with appressed or incurved callous 
teeth ; racemes elongated ; drupes globose, small, purplish-black. 
Late Peuxts. Wild Cherry. Black Cherry. 

stem, 40 -60 or 80 feet high, and 2-3 feet in diameter at base, with large irregular 
spreading branches. Leave? 2-4 or 5 inches long, subcoriaceous ; petioles half an inch to 
three-quarters in length. Eacenva simple, rather erect, 2-4 or 5 inches long. Petals 
white, obovate. Drupes dark purple or purplish black when mature, succulent, bitter 
and mawkish to the taste. 

Banks of streams ; fence-rows, &c.: Canada to Florida. Fl. May. Fr. August. 

Obs. The Wild Cherry tree attains its greatest perfection on the 
fertile banks of the Ohio and other rivers of the "\7est, where it forms a 
fine forest tree. On the Atlantic coast it is seldom more than a foot 
in diameter. The wood is hard, close-grained, and takes a good polish ; 
it is of a pale reddish tint which deepens with age. The bark is bitter, 
with something of a peach-kernel flavor, and contains a small propor- 
tion of prussic-acid ; it is considerably used in medicine and is consid- 
ered a very valuable tonic, and forms, or is said to form, the basis of 
several quack " Balsams " and " Pectorals." The ripe fruit is a favorite 
food of birds ; it is used to considerable extent in preparing " Cherry 
Eum," " Cherry Bounce," &c. It is probable that, like most wild fruits, 
the quality of this varies from local causes, some considering it pleasant 
when fully ripe, while to others it is nauseous. * 

I 4. Laurocerasus, (L.^urel Cherry). Leaves evergreen ; flowers from 
the axils of the haves of the former season. 

9. P. Carolinia'na, -^^t. Leaves oblong-lanc,eolate, acuminate, mu- 
cronate, entire or spiny-serrate, thick, smooth ; flowers in dense racemes, 
shorter than the leaves ; drupes black, juiceless, persistent. 
Carolina Prunus. Evergreen Cherry. 

Tree 30 - .50 feet high. Leaves shining above, almost veinless ; destitute of glands. Petal* 
Email. Stamens about 15. 
River banks ; South Carohna to Louisiana and Arkansas, ilarch - April, 

Obs. This tree is noticed on account of the poisonous qualities of 
its leaves, which, according to Elliott, frequently destroy cattle that 
browse upon them in the spring of the year. From the leaves of the 
nearly related European Cherry Laurel (P. Laurocerasus) is distilled 



120 



"WEEDS AXD USEFUL FLAXTS. 



the celebrated Laurel Water, a poisou Avhicli owes its deadly properties 
to the large amount of prussic-acid it contains. 

4. SPIEJE'A, L. Meadow-sweet. 

[Greek, Speirao, to wind ; from its fitness to form garlands.] 

Calyx 5-cleft, persistent. Petals 5, 6b ovate. Stamens 10-50. Pods 
(follicles) 3-5 or more, each 2- 4- or many-seeded. Shrubs or herbs ; 
leaves simple, sometimes lobed or even pinnately dissected. 

1. S. opulifo'lia, L. Leaves roundish ovate and 34obed, doubly cre- 
nate-serrate ; flowers corymbose; follicles inflated, 2-4-seeded. 

OpuLus-LEATED SpiE^A. Niuc Bark 

Shml 3-10 feet high, with spreading branches, and a loose lamellated hark, the nume- 
rous layers suggesting the popular name. Leaves 1-2 inches in length, and nearly as wida 
as long, usually 3-lobed ; petioles half an Inch to three-quarters in length. Corymbs suh- 
umbellate, convex, crowded, hoary pubescent when young ; common peduncles half an 
inch to an inch long. Flowers wliite, often tinged with purple. Carpels 3-5, connate 
below, acuminate ; seeds nbovoid. 

Margins of streams. June. 

Obs. A very showy ornamental species, which grows readily from 
cuttings, and should be generally cultivated. Sometimes called " Nine- 
Bark Syringa." 

2. S. tomento'sa, L. Stem and lower surface of the leaves covered 
with a rusty-colored wool ; leaves ovate or oblong, serrate ; racemes iu 
a dense elongated panicle ; carpels 5, woolly. 

"VYooLLY Spir.^a. Hardback. Steeple Bush. 

stem 2-3 feet high, brittle, clothed with an easily separable wool. Leaves 1-2 inches 
long, on very short petioles ; the upper surface of a bright green color in marked contrast 
to the often nearly white under surface. Floivers pale purple. 

New England — Georgia ; more rare southward. July -August. 

Obs. This plant possesses considerable astringency, and is in com- 
mon use in New England as a domestic remedy in diarrhoea and other 
complaints where astringents are required. It is a really beautiful spe- 
cies, and as it is much improved by cultivation, it quite as much de- 
serves a place in the garden as some of the rarer kinds. Many other 
species of this genus are well known and justly admired ornamental 
plants ; among them are S. ulmifolia (Meadow-Sweet), S. filifen- 
DULA (Drop-wort), which are herbaceous, and several slii^ubby ones, * 

5. GE'UM, L. AvExs. , 

rCreek, geuo, to relish, or taste weU ; the roots being rather aromatic] 
Calyx concave, 5-cleft, usually with a bractlet at each cleft. Petals 5. 
Stamens numerous. Akenes numerous, in a head ; styles long, persistent, 
tailed, and after flowering hooked at the summit. Perennial herbs; 
leaves pseudo-pinnate or lyrate. 

1. G. riva'le, L. Eadical leaves, interruptedly pinnate, the terminal 



EOSE FAMILY. 



121 




lobe large ; calyx segments erect ; petals purplish-orange, fe/cct ; style 
jointed and bent in the middle, upper joint plumose. 
EiVER Geum. Water Avens. Purple Avens. 

stem about 2 feet high, nearly simple, rather retrorsely pilose. PrincipaJ. leaflets Z-b ; 
lateral ones obovate : terminal one 2-3 inches long and wider than long : common petiola 
6-9 inches in length. Flowers nodding. Calyx brcmi-purple. Petals inversely heart- 
shaped, contracted- into a claw, longer than the calyx. Carpels in a stalked head, very 
hairy. Styles slender, dark purple. 

Bogs and wet meadows : Xew England to Pennsylvania. May -June. 



Fig. 82. The Water Avens (Geum rivale), reduced 



WEEDS AND U-SEFUL PLANTS. 



Oh3. The root of the Water Avens is tonic and powerfully astrin- 
gent, and is used as a popular remedy in diarrhoea, dyspepsia, &c. A 
decoction is made and taken with sugar and milk in the same manner as 
coffee, * 

6. POTENTILXA, L: Cinquefoil. 

[Latin, pofe?i8, powerful ; in reference to supposed medical properties.] 

Cahjx 5-cleft, with an external bract at each cleft, thus appearing 10- 
cleft. Petals mostly 5. Stamens numerous. Style lateral or terminal, 
deciduous. Akenes numerous, often rugose, capitate on a dry persistent 
villous receptacle. Seed suspended ; radicle always superior. Herbace- 
ous or suffruticose. Leaves pinnately or palmately compound. 

1. ?. E'orve'g'ica, L. Hirsute ; stem erect, dichotomous above ; leaves 
palmately 3-foliolate, the cauline ones on short petioles ; leaflets obovate- 
oblong, the uppermost lanceolate, coarsely and incisely serrate ; pedun- 
cles axillary, cymose at summit and leafy ; petals shorter than the 
calyx ; akenes rugosely ribbed or striate. 

Norwegian Potentilla. 

Root annual. Stem. 1-2 feet tiigli, rather stout. Leaflets 1-3 inches long; common 
petioles 1-4 inches long ; stipules large (often an inch or more in length) . Floiuers often 
"numerous, in leafy cymes at summit, and on long solitary peduncles below — ^the lower 
peduncles often opposite the leaves. Petals yellow. 

Pastures and roadsides : Northern States. Native of Lapland, Norway, and Northern 
America. Fl. July -August. Fr. September. 

Obs. This is said to be a native in the Northern States, and British 
America, — but it has very much the appearance of an introduced plant, 
— and has not yet, so far as I know, acquired a common name. It is 
only entitled to the notice of the farmer, as being a coarse, homely, 
worthless intruder in his pasture fields. 

2. P. Canaden'sis, L. Villous ; stems procumbent and ascending ; 
leaves palmately 5-foliolate ; leaflets cuneate-obovate, incisely serrate- 
dentate near the apex ; peduncles axillary, solitary, elongated ; petals 
longer than the calyx ; akenes somewhat rugose. 

Canadian Potentilla. Cinquefoil. Five-finger. 

Eoot perennial. Stem 2 or 3-12 and 18 inches long, slender, somewhat branched, often 
several from the same root. Radical leaves on petioles 2-6 or 8 inches long ; stem leaves 
nearly sessile : leaflets half an inch to 1-2 inches long. Fedumles about as long as the 
leaves. Petals j- ellow. 

Old neglected fields ; borders of woodlands, &c. Canada to Georgia. Fl. April -June, 
f^-. June -August. 

Ob$. The P. simplex, of authors, is no doubt properly ^ egarded as only 
a variety of this. Both varieties are rather harmless, though worthless ; 
and are merely indicative of a poor soil, or a thriftless farmer. Some 
lands, when kept as pasture fields, seem to have an almost incurable 
tendency to lose the valuable Grasses^ and to become speedily overrun 



ROSE FAITILT. 



123 



with Cicquefoil. Lime and manure, howeyer, will work wonders in the 
worst of soils. 

7. FEAGA'EIA, Tournef. Stkawbesky. 

\l^i\Ti.fragrojis, odorous ; in reference to its fragrant fruit.] 

Calyx, corolla, and stamens, the same as in Potentilla. Styles deeply 
lateral. Akenes numerous, smooth, scattered on the enlarged succulent 
or pulpy receptacle, or embedded in pits on its sur£ace. Perennial sto- 
loniferous herbs. Leaves 3-foliolate ; leaflets coarsely dentate. Flowers 
several, cymose on a scape-like peduncle ; sometimes dicecious by abor- 
tion. 




L F. ves'ca, L. Peduncles usually longer than the leaves ; calyx of the 
fruit reflexed ; fruit conical or hemispherical, — the akenes superficial. 
Eatable Feagaria. English Strawberry. Garden Strawberry. 
Fr. Le Fraisier. Germ. Die Erdbeerpflanze. Span. Fresera. 

Whole plant tiairy. Root perennial, and the leaves often green through the winter. 
iSfeni very short — hut several slender prostrate radicating rwrin^rs, 1-2 feet long, are 
thro^^n out from the crown of the root. Leaves mostly radical ; common petioles 3-8 or 9 
inches long ; leojlds ovate or cuneate-obovate, plicate, 1-3 or 4 inches long. Cymes 5-12 
or 1.5-flowered, with 2 or 3 fohaceous bracts at base, on peduncles 4 or 5 -10 or 12 inches 
in length. Floicers sometimes abortive. Petals white. Eeceptaxle (commonly regarded 
as the/?-Mi7) red or yellowish white, often long and slender, bearing the akenes super- 
ficially and rather prominently on the even surface. 

Gardens : cultivated ; also indigenous. J'Z. April. J"?-. May -June. 



Fig. 83. The Strawberry flower (Fragaria vesca) with numerous stamens and pistils 
e i. The fruit which consists of true fruits (akenes, one from each pistil) scattered over the 
Exrface of an enlarged and pulpy receptacle. 



124 



WEEDS AND USEFUL PLANTS. 



Obs. Varieties of this and of other species (as F. elatioe, Ehrli. and P, 
Chilensis, Ehrh.), and probably hybrids, have been produced by long 
cultivation ; the list of those kinds that have been found valuable cither 
for size, flavor or productiveness, is a long one, and is yearly increased 
by the efforts of cultivators to improve on the already established varie- 
ties. For several years pust the so-called strawberry question," has 
occupied a large share of attention from fruit-growers and writers on 
horticulture, — the question involving the nature of the plant ; whether it 
was hermaphrodite or dioecious, whether the pistillate varieties changed 
to staminate, &c. These points have been discussed at great length, and 
to say the least, with earnestness. The following are the conclusions 
arrived at by the Horticultural Society of Cincinnati, and published as 
the result of a long series of careful examinations. 

" Wild or cultivated, the strawberry presents, in its varieties, four dis- 
tinct forms or characters of inflorescence. 

1st. Those called pistillate, from the fact that the stamens are abortive, 
and rarely to be found without a dissection of the flower. These re- 
quire extrinsic impregnation. 

2d. Those called stammate, which are perfectly destitute of even the 
rudiments of pistils, and are necessarily fruitless. 

3d. Those called Hermaphrodite or perfect, having both sets of organs, 
stamens and pistils, apparently well developed. These are not generally 
good and certain bearers, as we should expect them to be. With few 
exceptions they bear poorly, owing to some unobserved defect, probably 
in the pistils. One-tenth of their flowers, generally produce perfect and 
often very large berries. 

4th. A rare class — a sort of subdivision of the preceding — has not only 
hermaphrodite flowers, but also some on the same truss that are of a pis- 
tillate character ; and sometimes, in the same plant, a truss will be seen 
on which all the flowers are pistillate." 

Individual plants are frequently to be found, in strawberry beds, in 
which the flowers are all abortive, — the stamens having the appearance 
of coarse blighted monstrosities — the pistils abortive — and the recepta- 
cle failing to enlarge. The Gardeners call these male plants, — and insist 
that their presence is absolutely indispensable, to insure a crop of fruit. 
But the flowers in question, are palpably neutral, and nothing more than 
blights. Although the true fruit of this plant consists of mere dry specks, 
or bony pai'ticles (/. <?. the minute akenes), scattered over the surface of 
the enlarged receptacle, — yet the receptacle itself furnishes a pulpy sub- 
stitute of the most delicious character. As it is only the receptacle and 
not the true fruit for which the strawberry is cultivated, the question 
has been raised, whether this enlargement of the receptacle may not take 
place, without the ovules being fertilized. Mr. G. W. Huntsman, of 
Flushing, L L, gives in " Pardee's Complete Manual for the Cultivation 
of the Strawberry,'' (a valuable work for the growers of the fruit), an 
account of some experiments, which go to show that unless the ovules 
are impregnated, the receptacle fails to enlarge. He enclosed some 



KOSE FAMILY. 



125 



plants of a pistillate kind beneath a glass, to protect them from receiv- 
ing the pollen from neighboring plants, applying pollen to some blossoms 
and leaving the majority without this impregnation ; only those to which 
the pollen was applied perfected fruit. Shakspeare has the following 
allusion to the habitat, or associates of the plant, to illustrate a morai 
sentiment : 

" Tlie Strawbe~n-y grows underneath the Nettl-e ; 
And wholesome berries thrive and ripen best, 
Neighbor'd by I'ruit of baser quahtj' ." 

King Henry V. * 

2. F. Virginia 'na, Ehrh. Peduncles commonly shorter than the leaves ; 
calyx of the fruit spreading ; fruit ovoid, nodding, — the akenes imbed- 
ded in the pitted surface of the receptacle. 
T iRGiNiAN Fragaeia. Wild Strawberry. 

Obs. This native species- is usually a smaller plant (perhaps for want 
of culture), but has a close general resemblance to the preceding, — and 
is frequent in old fields and meadows throughout the U. States. Drs. 
ToRREY and Gray remark, that " the deeply pitted fruit affords the only 
character for this species tliat can be wholly relied upon ;" and even that, 
I fear, is not unexceptionable. It is a deep purple, when mature, — and 
in its Avild state, of a more sprightly (sub-acid) flavor than the cultivat- 
ed sorts. 

8. EU'BUS, L. Bramble. 

[Latin, Ruber — or Celtic, Rul — red ; from the color of the fruit, or branches.] 

Calyx flatfish at base, 5-parted, without bracts at the clefts. Petals 5. 
Stamens numerous. Carpels mostly numerous, capitate on a protuberant 
spongy receptacle, becoming succulent and drupaceous, cohering and 
forming a compound berry, either deciduous or persistent. Perenmal iind 
and mostly suffruticose plants. Stems erect or procumbent, usually bien- 
nial and armed with prickles. Leaves pinnately or pedately compound, 
sometimes simple. 

§ 1. Carpels forming a hemispherical fruit, concave beneath, and decid- 
uous or fcdling away from the dry receptacle when ripe, (Raspberry.) 

* Leaves simple. 

1. B,. odora'tus, L. Stem fruticose, erect, unarmed, hispid with glan- 
dular hairs ; leaves palmately 3 - 5-lobed, unequally serrate ; stipules 
nearly free, deciduous ; corymbs terminal, spreading, glandular pilose and 
viscid ; flowers large ; sepals with a long acumination. 

Odorous Rubus. Eose-flowering Raspberry, 

Root creeping. Stem, perennial, 3-5 feet high, branching. Leaves 4-8 inches long, and 
ijcarly as wide as long, cordate at base ; petioles 2 - 4 or 6 inches long. Flowert. corymbose ; 
peduncles and sepals clothed with a purplish clammy glandular pubescence. FetaU 
"mostly purplish rose-color. Fi-uit broad, on a large receptacle, of a palish bright red or 
Bcarlet when mature — often abortive. 

Rocky woodlands and mountains: Canada to Georgia. Fl. June -July. Fr. Jnly- 
August 



126 



A^^EEDS AND USEFUL PLANTS. 



Obs. The fruit of this is pleasant'j flavored, — but is rarely perlected 
raider cultivation ; and indeed is often abortive in its native localities. I 
have seen it on the mountains in August, bearing flowers and ripe fruit 
at the same time. It is rather a troublesome plant, when introduced into 
yards and gardens, — sending up numerous suckers. The nearly allied B,. 
Ifutkaniis, Mocino, the white flowering Easpberry, which has white 
and smaller flowers, is common along the lakes of the North-west, and is 
sometimes cultivated. 

^ ^ Leaves ( pinnaiely or pedately ) 3 - 6-foliolate. 

2. E. Id^'us, L. Stem suffruticose, erect, terete, not glaucous, hispid 
at base, and somewhat prickly above ; leaves pinnately 3 - 5-folio- 
late ; leaflets rhomboid-ovate ; flowers in paniculate corymbs ; petals en- 
tire ; carpels slightly rugose, finely pubescent, not pitted in drying. 
Ida Eubus. Antwerp Easpberry. Garden. Easpberry. 

Ft. Framboisier. Germ. Die Himbeerstaude. Span. Frambueso. 

Root creeping. Stem 3-5 feet high, branching, mostly hispid when young, especially 
towards the base — smoothish (or sometimes pubescent) and armed with slender recurved 
prickles above — the hispid bark, below, exfohating the second year. Lower leaves odd- 
pinnate by fives, the upper ones by threes ; common petioles 1-3 or 4 inches long ; Icajleis 
2-4-inches long, acuminate, unec[ually incised-sorrate, smoothish and green above, clotned 
with a dense white cottony tomentum beneath. Petals white. Carpels incurved at apex, 
clothed with a very fine, short, dense pubescence, whitish, amber-colored or purple, when 
matare. 

Gardens : cultivated. Native of Europe. Fl. May. Fr. July. 

Ohs. This species is much cultivated for its favorite fruit. The plant 
presents some varieties — particularly in the size and complexion of the 
fruit ; and I am not sure that the following nearly aUied native species, 
which is found on our mountains, is not sometimes seen, and mistaken for 
it in the gardens. It requires some attention to keep the plant from 
spreading unduly, in a mellow soil, by means of its rambling roots. 

3. R. strigo'sus, Mx. Stems slightly glaucous, beset with stiff straight 
bristles (some of them becoming beak-hooked prickles) ; leaflets oblong- 
ovate ; fruit light red. 

Strigose Eubus. Wild Eed Easpberry. 

5!fem 3-5 feet high, light brown. Lower leaver odd-pinnate by fives, the upper ones 
ternate ; leaflets about 3 inches long, hoary beneath, the terminal one often cordate at base. 
Corymbs 4-'6-flowered, axillary and terminal,. often aggregated and forming a leafy pani- 
cle at the top. 

Hill sides — especially in cleared land. Fl. May. Fr. July. 

Ohs. This species is common northward, especially in mountainous 
regions. It often appears in great profusion where timber lands have 
been burned over. We have seen it on the clearings in Maine, in the 
fruiting season, in such abundance as to give an uniform red color to 
large tracts, and having a delicious flavor not equalled hy the cultivated 
species — if that be really distinct. The fruit is largely collected in Maine 
for making Easpberry Syrup. If the juice is squeezed from the berries 



ROSE FAMILT. 



12? 



and allowed to ferment 12 or 24 liours, according to the temperature, a 
thick coaguluui separates from the dark clear portion, which possesses a 
much higher flavor than the unfermented juice. If bottled, and the bot- 
tle filled so as to allow just room for the cork, the juice will keep in a 
cellar for a year or more. * 

4. R. OCCidenta'lis, L. Stem suffruticose, rather flaccid and leaning or 
arched, terete, smooth and glaucous, armed with recurved prickles ; leaves 
pinnately 3- (rarely 5-) foliolate ; leaflets lance-ovate ; flowers in subum- 
bellate corymbs ; petals often emarginate ; carpels smoothish, pitted in 
drying. 

Western Rubus. Wild or Black Raspberry. Thimble-berry. Black 
Caps. 

Stemb-%oi'\Q feet, long, sparingly branched, limber and often arcliing over so that 
the summit comes to the ground and takes root, mostly purplish and pruinose or 
covered with a fine bluish-white powder. Leaflets mostly in threes, 2-4 or 5 inches long, 
often with a long acuraination, and subcordate at base, smoothish above, clothed with a 
dense glaucous tomentum beneath. Pelah white. Fruit dark purple, or nearly black 
(rarely whitish alboque siinillima Graculo!) when mature. 

Canada to Georgia and Missouri : Borders of woodlands, fence-rows, &c. Fl. May. Fr. 
July. 

Ohs. The fruit of this is smaller and less esteemed than that of the 
preceding, — but is nevertheless sweet and agreeable. The plant, however, 
is generally treated as a weed, on all neat farms. 

g 2. Carpels forming an ovoid or oblong fruit, persistent on the some- 
what juicy receptacle (Blackberry). 

5. R. Canaden'sis, L. Stem fructicose, procumbent, armed with nume- 
rous short recurved prickles ; leaves mostly 3-foliolate ; leaflets ovate- 
acute, thin ; -fruit large, sweet. 

Canadian Rubus. Dewberry. Running Brier. 

stem 4-8 or 10 feet long, slender, trailing, smoothish — often several from the same 
root running in different directions, and giving out numerous leafy pubescent flowering 
branches, which are nearly erect, and 2 -4 or 6 inches long. Leaflets mostly in threes 
(sometimes pedately in fives) , three fourths of an inch to an inch and a half long. Flowers 
terminal and subterminal on the short branches, few and rather large, somewhat corym- 
bose by the elongation of the lower axillary pedicels. Corolla white. Fruit oblong, 
obtuse or often roundish, large (half an inch to near an inch in diameter), black when 
mature, very succulent and sweet. 

Rocky sterile soils, old fields, &c. Canada to Virginia, Fl. May. Fr. July. 

Ohs. Our Dewberry is a fine fruit, the earliest and the sweetest Blach- 
herry ; but it is not the "Dewberry" of England — which is the R. 
cmius, L. There has been some confusion respecting our plant, among 
the Botanists ; and Prof. De Candolle seems not to have had a clear 
conception of the species. But there is scarcely a farmer's boy w)>~- io 
not well acquainted with it, from having often encountered its pv'-i-'kly 
trailing stems with his naked ankles, while heedlessly traversing the <)ld 



128 



WEEDS AA"D USEFUL PLANTS. 



On wen-managed farms, however, the plant is 
becoming somewhat rare. 
6. E,. villo'sus, -^it. Stem fructicose, erect, 
angular, branching, armed with stout curved 
prickles ; young branches and peduncles 
gland ular-villous ; leaves 3-foliolate or pe- 
dately 5-foliolate ; leaflets ovate or lance- 
oblong, villous beneath, the petioles and 
midribs aculeate ; racemes elongated, many* 
flowered. 

YiLLOUs KuBus. Blackberry. Common 
Brier. Bramble. 

Fr. La Ronce. Germ. Der Brombeerstrauch. 
Sjjan. Zarza. 

Root creeping. Stem 3-6 or 8 feet high, stout, ridged or angular and somewhat fur- 
rowed. Leaflets 2-3 or 4 inches long, mostly acute. Racemes rather large, sometimes 
leafy. PeLals white. Fi-uit ovoid-ohlong or cyliudric — sometimes near an inch long — 
changing from green to red or purplish, and finally black when mature 

Old fields, thickets and borders of woods : throughout the United States. Fl. May 
Fr. July - Aug. 

Ohs. Every one knows the common Brier. The root, both of this and 
the preceding, being moderately astringent, is a popular remedy for 
diarrhoea and mild dysentery. The ripe fruit affords a pleasant jam, 
which is also considered salutary in such cases. Even the knots which 
are formed on the branches, from the puncture of insects, were formerly 
carried by credulous simpletons, as a sort of amulet or charm against the 
tooth-ache ! The plant, nevertheless, is often something of a nuisance on 
our farms, from its tendency to spread and take possession of neglected 
fields. This plant varies considerably in habit and in hairiness, some 
forms being nearly prostrate, while others form erect bushes. The size 
and shape of the fruit varies exceedingly ; apparently attaining its 
greatest perfection near the sea-shore. Latterly, considerable attention 
has been given to the cultivation of some of the finer varieties of this 
plant. The kind known as the " Lawton" or " New Rochelle Blackberry," 
is a splendid fruit, and is now becoming abundant in the markets of our 
cities. It is worthy of the attention of every fruit-grower. 

7. E,. cuneifo'lius, Pursh. Stem sub terete ; branches pubescent ; leaves 
cuneate-obovate, sub-plicate, tomentose beneath ; racemes few-flowered. 
Wedge-leaved Rubus. Sand Blackberry. 

stem 3-5 feet high, branched. Leaflets mostly ternate, 1-2 inches long, cuneate, and 
obtuse with a short abrupt acumination ; common petioles half an inch to an inch in length. 
Flowers sometimes tinged with red. Fruit oval, about half an inch long, black when 
mature, succulent and well flavored. 

New Jersey and southward. 



fields where it abounds. 




Fig. 85. Fruit of the Blackberry [Rubus villosus], divided to show that U is made up of 
num?rons small drupes, adhering to the receptacle. 



EOSE FAMILY. 



129 



Ohs. ThiS species, wnich is common in dry soils in the Southern States., 
produces a fruit which is considered superior in* favor to the preceding. 




9. RO'SA., Tournef. Rose. 

[The ancient Latin name.] 

Calyx urceolate — the tube contracted at the orifice, including the nume- 
rous distinct ovaries, at length becoming fleshy or baccate ; the segments 
often foliaceous at apex. Petals 5, obovate or obcordate, inserted with 
the numerous stamens on the rim of the calyx-tube. Akenes numerous, 
crustaceous, hispid, included in and attached to the inner surface of the 
calyx-tube. Shrubby and prickly plants. Leaves mostly odd-pinnate ; 
stipules adnate to the petiole. 



Fig. 86. The flower of a Rose, divided and exhibiting the numerous pistils inserted 
within a hollow receptacle. 8" A separate ripened pistil or carpel. 88. A carpel 
opened to show the seed. 

6* 



130 



WEEDS AND L^SEFUL PLANTS. 



1. B,. seti'gera, Mx. Stems climbing, armed with stout nearly straight 
prickles ; leaflets 3-5, ovate, acute ; flowers corymbed ; styles cohering 
in a column as long as the stamens. 

Prickly Eosa. Prairie Eose. Climbing Eose. 

stem long and climbing, often growing from 10-20 feet in one season. Petioles glandu- 
lar. Leaflets acute, sharply serrate, smooth or dowu}^ beneath. Flowers reddish, nearly 
inodorous, deep rose color changing to white ; calyx glandular. Fruit globular. 

Borders of prairies : Ohio, Illinois and southward. July. 

Ohs. This species is often cultivated, and is well adapted to train 
along walls, palisades, &c. It is the only native climbing rose. 

2. R. Iceviga'ta, Mx. Glabrous ; stems armed with strong, often 
geminate curved prickles ; leaves 3- (sometimes 5-) foliolate ; leaflets 
coriaceous ; stipules setaceous, deciduous ; flowers solitary, terminal ; 
tube of calyx ovoid, muricate with long prickly bristles. 

Smooth Eosa. Cherokee Eose. 

stem with, long flexile branches 15-20 feet in length. Leaves persistent, often prickly 
on the midrib below. Flowers very largo, white. 
South Carolina to Louisiana. April. 

Obs. This evergreen species has long been cultivated at the South as 
the " Cherokee Eose ;" its origin is not known. It is highly commended 
as a hedge plant, by Elliott. " In our rural economy," he says, " this 
plant will one day become very important. For the purpose of forming 
hedges, there is perhaps no plant which unites so many advantages.'' 
This Eose, however, will not stand our northern winters. 

3. R. Caroli'na, L. Stem smooth, armed with stout recurved stipuiar 
prickles ; leaflets mostly 5-7, oblong-oval or elliptic-lanceolate, finely 
serrate, somewhat glaucous beneath ; flowers corymbose. 

Carolina Eosa. Swamp Eose. 

stem 4-6 feet high, with numerous purple branches. Leaflets 1-2 inches long. Flowers 
mostly in terminal corymbs of 3 - 6 or 7 in a cluster. Petals red or purplish. Fruit (i. e. 
the ^(^s\\Y calyx -tube) depressed 'globose, a little glandular-hispid, dark red and shining 
when mature. 

Low swampy grounds and thickets : Northern and Middle States. Fl. June - Jul}^ Fr. 
September. 

Ohs. This is often a troublesome plant in wet meadows and low 
grounds, forming unsightly thickets with other weeds, if neglected. 
Another native species, H. lu'cida, Eltrh., the Dwarf Wild Eose, ia 
very common ; it differs from the preceding in its unequal bristly 
prickles and 1-3-flowered peduncles. The Sweet Briar, R. rubigino'sa, 
L., well known for its fragrant glandular foliage, is thoroughly natural- 
ized in many places. The cultivated roses, so justly prized among 
flowers, are varieties produced by long and careful culture from different 
species of this genus. An enumeration even of the most common would 
opcupy too much space here. 



HOSE FAMILY, 



131 



10. CRAT^E'GUS. L. Hawthorn. 

[Greek, Kratos, strength ; iu allusion to Jie strength or firmness of the wood.] 

Calyx-tube urceolAte ; limb 5-cleft. Petals 5. Stamens numerous. Styles 
1-5. Fruit fleshy or somewhat farinaceous, containing 1-5 bony 
1-seeded carpels. Thorny shrubs or small trees. Leaves alternate, simple, 
often incised or lobed. ^Flowers mostly in terminal corymbs. 

1. C. Crus-gal'li, Leaves obovate-cuneate or lance-oblong, serrate, 
coriaceous, smooth and shining, subsessile ; styles 1 - 3 ; fruit somewhat 
pyriform. 

CocK-spuR Ceat^gus. Cockspur Thorn. New Castle Thorn. 

stem 10-15 or 20 feet high, much branched, and armed with sharp tapering thorns 2 
to near 3 inches in length. Leaves l-'2}4 inches long, on short petioles. Coryrnbs termi- 
nal on short rigid spurs. Petals white. jFruit middling sizod, reddish brown when mature. 

Thickets, fence rows, hedges, &c.: Canada to Florida. Fl. June. Fr. October. 

Obs. This shrub — of which there are two or three pretty distinct va' 
rieties — is, in my opinion, the best adapted for hedging, of any of the 
genus. Properly treated, it makes a durable and effective hedge. But 
until timber shall become scarce, very few farmers will take the requisite 
pains to insure a complete hedge, and without such care it is worse than 
labor lost to make such an attempt. In the language of Mr. McMahon's 
excellent " American Gardener's Calendar,'' referring to the hedging ex- 
periments of negligent, slovenly farmers : " I would advise such to hold 
fast by the post and rail, and not to lose time in doing more hurt than 
good." 

2. C, COrda'ta, ^>t. Leaves deltoid-ovate and sub-cordate at base, 
incised-serrate and somewhat 3-lobed, smooth, on slender and rather long 
petioles ; styles 5 ; fruit depressed globose. 

Cordate Crat^gus. Washington Thorn. Yirginia Thorn. 

stem 15-20 feet high, much branched, and armed with slender tapering sharp thorns 1 
to near 3 inches in length. Leaces 2-3 inches long, often o-lobed like a leaf of the Red 
Maple. Corymbs terminating the young slender short branches Fetals white. Styles 
move or less united, io-wif small, bright reddish purple when mature. 

Banks of streams : Virginia to Georgia. Fl. June. Fr. October. 

Obs. This species is the one which has been chiefly cultivated for 
hedging, in Pennsylvania — where it was introduced, from the vicinity of 
"Washington City, about the commencement of the present century. It 
makes a handsome hedge, but not a very substantial one ; and, in my 
opinion, is decidedly inferior to the Cockspur Thorn, for that purpose. 
I have used it extensively ; but have found it so subject to be broken 
into gaps, by thoughtless or reckless trespassers, that my hedges have 
been rather a source of vexation than of satisfaction. 

3. C. oxyacantha, L. Leaves cuneate-ob ovate, cut-lobed, often trifid ; 
styles 1 - 3 ; fruit ovoid, small. 

Sharp-thorned Crat.^gus. Hawthorn. English Thorn. 



132 



WEEDS AND USEFUL PLANTS. 



Stan 6-12 feet high, mucli branched; branches rugged, armed with tapering thortiii 
about half an inch in length. Leaves an inch to an inch and a half long, and about as wide 
as long, variously lobed, often 3-5 lobed, with the terminal lobe trifld. Stipules of the 
young plant foliaceous, obhquely falcate-reniform. Corymbs terminal on the short branches, 
many flowered. Style mostly solitary. Fruit about X of an inch in diameter, purple when 
mature. 

Cultivated and naturalized. Native of Europe. i^^L May. J'r. October. 

Obs. This, the Hawthorn so often mentioned by English writers, and 
so interwoven in English poetry, is often used for hedges, and is to some 
extent naturalized. Like the other species of the genus, it has a m.arked 
tendency to "sport" or form varieties, and over thirty varieties are 
mentioned in the English works on horticulture. Some of them flower 
very late in the season, others have red flowers, and there are those with 
pendulous and with erect branches. It is capable of being trained into 
a neat compact tree, and growing thus, especialiy the red-flowered va- 
riety, when filled with its fragrant flowers, is really charming. The 
ripe fruit or " haws," are a favorite food of the birds. * 

11. PY'RUS, L. Pear and Apple. 

[The, Latin name for the Pear.] 

Calyx-tube urceolate ; h'mb 5-lobed. Styles mostly 5, often united at 
base. Po7ne fleshy,— containing 2-5 cartilaginous or nearly membrana- 
ceous carpels. Seeds 2 in each carpel or cell ; testa chartaceous or car- 
tilaginous. Trees or shrubs. Leaves alternate, simple or pinnate. 
Flowers in terminal spreading cymes or corymbs. 
^ 1. Leaves simple. 

* Styles 5, distinct ; fruit not sunk in at the attachment of the stalk. (Pyrus.) 

1. P. commu'nis, L. Leaves lance-ovate, slightly serrate, the uppei 
surface smooth ; peduncles corymbose ; fruit turbinate. 

CoMMOisr Pyrus. Pear. Pear-tree 

Fr. Le Poirier. Germ. Der Birnbaum. Span. El Peral, 

stem 15-30 feet high, branching ; branches virgate, rather erect, forming an oblong or 
conical top. Xeaues 2-3 inches long ; peitoZtes 1 -2 inches in length. PetaZs white. Fruit 
of various size (1-2 or 3 inches in diameter), fleshy or succulent, umbilicate at apex, 
obovoid, tapering to the peduncle, often somewhat* curved or oblique. 

Cultivated. Native of Europe. i^Z. May. Fr. August -November. 

Obs. Many varieties of this luscious fruit have been obtained by 
long culture, — in which the French seem particularly to excel. 

^* Styles 5, united at base; fruit sunk in at the base. (Malus.) 

2. P. Ma'lus, L. Leaves ovate-oblong, serrate, the upper surface 
pubescent ; peduncles subumbellate villous ; fruit depressed, globose, or 
oblong. 

Apple Pyrus. Common Apple. Apple-tree. 

Fr. Le Pommier. Germ. Der Apfelbaura. Span. Manzano. 

stem 15-25 or 30 feet high, branching ; branches mostly spreading and often genicu- 
late, formiag a broad bushy top. Leaves 2-3 inches long ; petioles an inch or more \v 



ROSE FAMILY. 133 




90 



length Petals mostly pale red. Fruit of xarioas size (1-3 or 4 iaclies in diameter), 
fleshy, umbilicate at both ends. 
Cultivated. Native of Europe. i^L May. J'r. July -November. 

Obs. The varieties of this valuable fruit are almost innumerable, — 
and every farmer provides more or less of an orchard ; but there is far 
too little attention paid to the selection of the best. It is really won- 
derful to observe how many worthless trees are permitted to cumber the 
ground, which might just as readily, and far better, be occupied by 
those which bear the choicest fruit. 

3. P. corona'ria, L. Leaves broad-ovate, rounded or sub-cordate at 
base, iucised-serrate and somewhat angulate-lobed, smoothish ; pedun- 
cles corymbose ; fruit depressed-globose. 



• FiCt. 89. The flower of the Apple (Pyriis Malus), divided and showing the ovariefl 
cohering with the calyx- tube. 90. A section of an Apple, in whicTi the bulk of the fruit 
(pome) is formed of the fleshy enlarged calyx-tube, surrounding and cohering with the 
2-seeded papery carpels. 



134 



WEEDS AXD USEFUL PLANTS. 



Crowx Pyrus. Crab Apple. Sweet-scented Crab-tree. 

stem ]0-15 feet liigh, 'brancliing ; branches spreading, rngged with sliort spurs, form- 
ing a rather bushy top. Leaves 2-3 inches long -^jpetioles half "an inch to an inch and ahali 
in Jength. Floicers large and fragrant ; petals pale rose red. FruU rather small (about 
an inch in diameter), umbilicate at both ends, fleshy but firm and hard, smooth, pale 
greenish yellow and very fragrant when mature — yet extremely acid. 

Borders of woodlands, road-sid"S, &c. New York to Louisiana. Fl. May. Fr. Sep- 
tember. 

Ohs. This native apple is now becoming scarce in the older settle- 
ments of Pennsylvania. In former times the ripe fruit was sought after, 
by notable housewives, for the purpose of making preserves. 
I 2. Leavs odd-pinnate; cymes compound] styles sepo/rate ; fruit berry- 
like, small. (S or bus.) 

4. P. America'na, .-DC. Leaflets 13-15, lanceolate, taper-pointed, 
sharply serrate, smooth ; cymes large, flat ; fruit red. 
American Pyeus. American Mountain Ash. 

Small tree, 10-25 feet high, sometimes 4-6 inches in diameter, with a smooth bark. 
Leoxes 8-12 inches or more in length ; leaflets 2-3 inches long, pubescent when young, 
smooth with age. Flowers white; corymbs very compound, 4-10 inches in diameter; 
fi-uit acid. 

Mountain woods. New England to Wisconsin. June. 

Obs. This elegant tree is often seen in cultivation, and is especially 
conspicuous in the autumn, its large bunches of scarlet berries remain- 
ing, after the leaves have fallen, even through the winter. It is very 
nearly related to the European Mountain Ash, (P.aucupaeia), which 
is also much cultivated. Both species are valuable as ornamental trees, 
whether for the beauty of their foliage or fruit. 

12. GYDO'NIA, Tournef. Quince. 

[The name of a city of Crete, — whence it was obtained.] 

Calyx-tube subturbinate ; limb 5-lobed, — the lobes sometimes foliaceons. 
Styles 5. Pome fleshy, containing 5 cartilaginous carpels. Seeds sev- 
eral in each carpel or'^cell, covered with mucilaginous pulp. Small trees 
or shrubs. Leaves alternate, simple, entire or serrate. Flowers large, 
soKtary, or subumbellate. 

1. C. vulga'ris, Pers. Leaves oblong-ovate, obtuse at base, very en- 
tire, tomentose beneath ; fruit sub-turbinate, tomentose. 
Common Cydonia. Quince. Quince-tree. 

Fr. Le Cognassier. Geryn. Der Quittenbaum. Span. Membrillero 

stem ^-12 or 15 feet high, with spreading branches. Leaves 2-3 inches long ; petioles 
about half an inch long. Flowers terminal, solitary. Petals reddish white. Stameiis in 
a single eeriop. Fruit 2 inches or more in diameter, somewhat obovoid, umbilicate at 
apex, abruptly tapering or produced at base, j-ellow when mature. 

Cultivated. Native of Southern Eui-ope. PZ. May. JV. September -October. 

Obs. The frait of this is chiefly used for making preserves, — for 
which it is excellent. It is supposed to be the golden apple of the Hes- 



EYEXI^'G J'KIilROSZ FAMIL\^ 



135 



perides, so celebrated in ancient fable ; but if the Orange had then been 
known, it would doubtless have been esteemed a more precious fruit by 
the " TTestern Maidens." The C. Oaponica, Pm. (Pyrus Japonica, 
Wilkl.) is well known for its beauty as a flowering shrub, in the gar- 
dens ; but the fruit, though remarkably fragrant, is very hard and 
acerb, and of little value. 

Order XXYII. CALTCANTHA'CE^. (Carolina-allspice 

Family.) 

Shrubs with opposite entire leaves without stipules. The sepals ai^d petals similar and inde- 
finite. Otherwise mostly as in Rosaccae. 

1. CALYCAN'THUS, L. CAROLiNA-ALLSPrcE. 

[Greek, kalyx, a cup, and anthos, a flower ; from the closed cup which contains tJie pistils.] 

Sepals numerous, mostly colored like the petals, united below into a 
cup. Petals similar to the sepals, inserted in several rows on the top of 
the closed calyx-tube. Stamens numerous, just within the petals ; some 
of them sterile. Pistils many, enclosed in the calyx-tube, inserted on 
its base and inner face. Frmt like a rose hip, but larger and dry when 
ripe, enclosing the large akenes. Shrubs with opposite entire leaves, 
and large, lurid purple flowers terminating the leafy branches. Bark 
and foliage aromatic ; the crushed flowers exhaling more or less the fra- 
grance of strawberries. 

Carolina-allspice. Sweet-scented Shrub. Strawberry-bush. 

Obs. There are several species of this genus cultivated for the fra- 
grance of their rather unsightly flowers ; they are natives of the southern 
portion of the United States, but are quite hardy northward. The three 
species, or, as they are classed by some, varieties, are distinguished as 
follows : 

C. flo'ridus, L. Leaves oval or roundish, downy beneath. 

C. l88viga'tus, WiUd. Leaves oblong, smooth, green on both sides ; 
flowers smaller. 

C. glau'cus, Willd. Leaves oblong- or lance-ovate, pointed, glaucous 
or whitened beneath. 

Order XXYIIL ON AGRA' CE^. (Evening Primrose Family.) 

Herhs with alternate entire leaves without stipule's and axillary flowers with the parts in 
fours. Tube of the culyx adherent to the 2-4-celled ovary and prolonged above it ; its 
lobes vaivate in the bud. Petals valvate in the bud and with the 8 stamens inserted on 
the summit of the calyx-tube. Pollen grains connected by cobwebby threads. StyU 
single, slender ; stigma' 2 -4:-lohed or capitate. Pod 4-celled, 4-valved ; placentae in its 
axis. Seeds without albumen. 

An order containing some plants (such as the Fuchias), which afe interesting for their 
beauty, but none of Agricultural value. 



136 



WEEDS AXD USEFUL PLANTS. 



1. (ENOTHE'RA, L. EvenixXG Pkimeose. 

[Greek, Oinos, wine, and Thei'a, a chase ; application obscure.] 

Calyx of 4 membranaceous sepals, united below into a long tabe ; li,nh 
reflexed, and, with a portion of the tube, deciduous. Petals 4. Sta- 
mens 8, erect or declined. Capsule more or less oblong and quadrangu- 
lar, 4-valved; many-seeded. 

1. (E. bien'nis, L. Stem erect, somewhat branched, pilose and 
roughish ; leaves ovate-lanceolate, repaud-dentate ; petals inversely 
heart-shaped ; capsule obtusely 4-angled, subsessile. 

Biennial (Enothera. Evening Primrose. Night Willow-herb. 

Boot bienuiaL Stem 2-5 or 6 feet high, ratber stout, bairj^ and usually greenish 
Leaves 2-6 inches long, sessile or subsessile. Flowers large, in a terminal leafy spike 
Calyx colored, — the tube much longer than the ovary. Petals yellow. Ovary oblong 
style rather longer than the corolla ; stigma cruciate, elongated, linear. Capsule ob- 
scurely 4-sided, an inch to an inch and a half long, smoothisb, splitting into 4 sub-lineai 
valves. 

Fields, fence-rows, &c. throughout the United States. I'l. June -September. Fr. 
August-October. 

Obs. This coarse plant is entitled to the notice of the farmer, merely 
in consequence of being a common, rather conspicuous, and worthless 
weed, in pastures, and on the borders of cultivated fields. A variety, 
of yet stouter growth, and very large flowers (QE. grandiflora, of some 
authors) , is often tolerated in gardens. There is another species ((E. 
fruticosa, L. of smaller size, with more slender, yet more rigid stems), 
which is quite common in old fields ; but is scarcely of sufficient im.por- 
tance, even as a weed, to claim a place in this work. 

Order XXIX. GROSSULA'CEJE. (Currant Family.) 

Small shi'ubs, often spinose or prickly, with alternate palmately lobed and veined leaves 
and flowers in racemes or small clusters. Calyx-tube adherent to the ovary, the limb 
5-lobed, sometimes colored. Petals 5, small. Stamens 5. Ovary with 2 parietal placentae , 
styles more or less united. Fruit a berry, crowned with the shrivelled remains ol thtf 
flower. Seeds mostly numerous ; embryo minute, in hard albumen. 
A small Order, — and of little or no interest beyond the genus here noticed. 

1. RI'BES, L. Gooseberry and Currant. 

[An ancient Arabic name, — of obscure meaning.] 

The Generic character the same as that of the Order. 
"'^ Stems more or less pricJdy. 

1. R. UvA-CRis'pA, X. Leaves obtusely 3 -5-lobed, somewhat villoug 
beneath and on the petiole ; peduncles mostly 1-flowered, bracteate ; 
sepals reflexed ; ovary and style villous ; berry hairy or smooth. 
Goose-berry. 

Fr. Vrai Groseillier. Germ. Die Stachelbeere. Span. Uva espma. 

stem 2-3 feet high, diffusely branching. Leaves X of an inch to an iuch and a half In 



CUEEAXT FA:MILY. 



137 



length, and as wide as lonr. incisely lobed and dcntrde : jvfinj,:.^ grcnc-rally much shorter 
than the ieavts, often mari:-ined. 'I'olv.ndfi solitary or lu pairs, ui'ten hracteaie near the 
middle. Pefn.h pale greonish-yelloNV. BerritS solitary, pendulous, large, oval, of a 
greenish amber colnr ^Yhen mature. 
Gardens : cultivated. Xative of Europe. Fl. April. Fr. July, 

Ohs. This species is mucli cultivated for its fine fiuit : but (in Peun- 
sylvania, at least) it often fails to perfect the fruit, from some cause not 
well unclers'tood. Judo'ing' from specimens ^Yhich I have seen, it ap- 
pears to succeed much better in England, and the fruit attains to a 
much larger size in that country. 

Stems not pncJdy. 

2. R. ru'Drum, L. Leaves obtusely 3-5-1 obed, .smooth above, pubes- 
cent beneath : racemes pendulous, nearly smooth ; calyx rotate, the seg- 
ments rounded. 

Eed Eibes. Eed Currant. 

Fr. Groseillier rouge. Germ. Gemeine Johannisbeere. Sjmn. Eibes 
roja. 

stems numerous, slender, sparingly branch-d. '2-4 h-<-t hiirh. Leaves 1-2 or 3 inches 
lung, and rather wider than long, un'-nnally inci.?c->l-<l<.rjtat..' : ]'di' h;-< ab.-nit as long as the 
leaves. Reievmes produe>/d frum Literal buds disiiiu.d from lli'' f'aves ; leiirU o\-ate. I'e- 
tali greenish yellow, minute. Berriiz.^ glofiose, rcl (rarely \vhiti.~h or i)earl-color) whi'U 
mature. 

Gardens : cultivate' 1. Native of Europe and the northr/rn rcgiems of America. Fl. 
April. Fr. June -July. 

Ohs. This is so easily cultivated, and is so constantly productive, 
that it is to be found in almost every garden. The fine acid fruit yields 
a favorite jelly for the table ; and even the green berries are much u.sed 
by the pastry cook. 

3. E. xi'grem, L. Leaves 3 - 5-lobed, sprinkled with yellow resinous 
dots beneath ; racemes loose, pilose ; calyx tul)ular-campanulato. 
Black Eibes. Black Currant. 

Fr. Cassis. Germ. Schwarze Johanni.sbeere. Span. Eibes negra. 

.?^em.s numerous, slruider, 3 -.5 f'ot high. Lenrrx^.-^ inchr'S long, and nearly as wide 
as Ion sr. dentate-serrate, pub-scent bc'Uoath : j)di"l:S shorter than the leaves. Bacemes 
somewhat pe-ndulous., g'm-rally with a distim/t single-flciweri'd in-duncle at base ; IrracU 
subulate. l'e'."h pal-.- vvUowish arccn ('sometimes ehangL'd into stamens or stamviodia) 
Berriei neun'iish-ovoid , iir,i-pi;;b Ida'^k wbr^n mature. 

Gardens : cultivated. Native of NcA-theru Europe. FJ. April. Fr. June- July. 

Ohs. This is sometimes found in gardens ; but the fruit being of a 
rather insipid or flat sweetish taste, it is not much esteemed. It how- 
ever affords a jelly which is a popular and useful remedy for sore throat, 
colds, &c. There are numerous other species of this genus ; l)ut, so far 
as I know, the foregoing are all that are cultivated' (and perhaps all 
that are worth cultivating) for the sake of the fruit. 

There are two species cultivated as flowering shrubs, one indigenous 
along the great rivers of the West, and the other a native of California 



138 



WEEDS AND USEFUL PLANTS. 



Order XXX. CUCUEBITA'CE^. (Gourd Family.) 

Herbaceous mostly succulent vines with tendrils, alternate palmately veined or lobcd 
haves and monoecious or dioecious (often monopetalous) floweis. Calyx of 4-5 (rarely 6) 
sepals, united into a tube, and in the fertile flowers adherent to the ovary. Petals as 
many as the sepals, more or less united, and cohering with the calyx. Stamens 8-5 in- 
serted into the base of the corolla or calyx, distinct or variously united by their filaments 
and long, mostly tortuous, anthers. Ovary 1-3-celled, — the thick fleshy pZctcente often 
filling the cells ; stigmas thick, dilated or fringed. Fruit (Pepo) usuahy fleshy, with a 
firm (sometimes a ligneous and occasionally a membranous) rind. Seeds flat, destitute of 
albumen ; cotyledons foliaceous. 

This Order — so well known for its culinary products — contains some which are pos- 
sessed of active medicinal properties (such as the Colocynth, of the shops — Cucumis Colocyn- 
this, L.) ; but few, if any, of Agricultural interest, beyond those here mentioned. 

* Petals connected at the base mly. 
1. LAGENA'RIA, Ser. GoUrd. 

[Greek, Lagenos, a flagon or bottle ; from the shape of the fruit.] 

Calyx campanulate or subturbinate, S-toothed, — the segments subulate- 
lanceolate, shorter than the tube. Petals 5, obovate, inserted within and 
beneath the margin of the calyx. Stamens 5, triadelphous, the fifth one 
free. Stigmas 3, subsessile, thick, 2-lobed, granular. Fruit at first 
fleshy and pubescent, finally with a smooth ligneous rind. Seeds com- 
pressed, obovate, somewhat 2-lobed at apex, the margin tumid. 
1. L. vulga'ris, Ser. Softly pubescent ; stem climbing ; leaves round- 
ish-cordate, acuminate, denticulate, with two glands at base ; fruit cla- 
vate-ventricose. 

Common Lagenaria. Calabash. Bottle Gourd. 

Fr. Calebasse. Germ. Der Kuerbiss. Span. Calabaza. 

Whole plant somewhat viscid, and emitting a fetid musky odor. Stem 10-15 or 20 feet 
long, slender, branching, climbing hy tendrils vfhich are 2-4-cleft. Leaves 4-6 or 8 in- 
ches long ; petioles 2-6 inches long Flowers axillary, on long peduncles ; coroZZa, white, 
with green nerves and veins. Fruit 12-18 inches long, and 4-6 or 8 inches in diameter, 
unequally bi-veutricose, finally nearly hollow or partially filled with the loose dry sube- 
rose placenlce, — the rind yellowish or pale brown, thin and hard. Seeds in a dry mem- 
branous arillus. 

Gardens and lots : cultivated. Native of the tropical regions. jFZ. July -August. F)\ 
September - October. 

Ohs. The thin firm woody shell of the fruit affords a very convenient 
kitchen utensil, — and the plant is sometimes cultivated for the sake of 
that fruit, by cottagers and farmers v/ho cannot afford, or do not choose 
to purchase more costly utensils. 

There is cultivated occasionally, for the table, a cucurbitaceous fruit 
of extraordinary length, called Yegetable Marrow," — which seems to 
belong to this species, and perhaps may be the var. clavata of Seringe. 

2. CU'CUMIS, L. Cucumber and Melon. 

[Said to be derived from the Celtic, Cucc, a hollow vessel.] 

Calyx tubular-campanulate, 5-toothed, — the teeth subulate, scarcely aa 
long as the tube. Petah 5, nearly distinct and but slightly adnate to 



GOUED FAMILY. 



139 



the calyx. Stamens 5, triadelphous. Stigmas 3, subsessile, thick, 2- 
lobed. Fruit fleshy, indehiscent. Seeds Vfhite, hince-oblong, compressed, 
acute at base and on the margin. 

1. C. Me'lo, L. Stem prostrate ; leaves subcordate, obtuse, somewhat 
angled, the angles rounded ; fertile flowers perfect ; fruit oval or subglo- 
bose, torulose. 

Melon Cucumis. Musk-melon. Cantaloupe. 

Fr. Melon. Germ. Die Melone. Span. Melon almizcleno. 

Hirsute and roughish. 7?ooi annual. Ste7)i 5-8 or 10 feet long, sparingly branched 
tendrils simple. Leaves 3-4 inches long, and rather wider than long ; petioles 2-3 inches 
in length. Flowers axillSLTj , on short peduncles. Corolla yellow. Fruit 4-6 or 8 inches 
in diameter, often longitudinally ridged (torulose), — the flesh, when mature, yellowish, 
succulent, and of a saccharine spicy flavor. 

Gardens and lots : cultivated. Native of Asia. Fh June -July. Fr. August. 

Obs. The fruit of this— of which there are several varieties — is a great 
favorite with many persons, — and it is often cultivated at the North ; but 
the best specimens are grown in the warm sandy soil of New Jersey, and 
the Southern States. 



2. C. sATi'vus, L. Stem procumbent ; leaves subcordate and angulate- 

lobed, the terminal lobe prominent ; fruit oblong, obscurely and obtusely 

trigonous, scabrous when young, finally smoothish. 

Cultivated Cucumis. Cucumber. 

Fr. Le Concombre. Germ. Die Gurke. Span. Pepino. 

Rough and hispid. Eoot annual. Stem 6-12 or 15 feet long, somewhat branchmg ; 
tendrils simple. Leaves 3-5 or 6 inches long, and nearly as wide as long, somewhat 
5-angled and lobed ; petioles 2-4 inches in length. Flowers axillary, on short peduncles ; 
corolla yellow. Fruit 6-12 inches long and 2-3 inches in diameter, rough with bristle- 
pointed tubercles when young, smoothish and tawnj^ yellow when mature. 

Gardens and lots : cultivated. Native of Tar tary and the East. J^i. June -September. 
Fr. August -October. 



Fig. 91. A staminate flower of the Cucumber (Cucumis sativus). 92. A fertile flower 
of the same. 93. A pistil. 94. The stamens, showing the contorted anthers. 



84 il 




140 



TTEEDS A^-D USEPUL PLAXTS. 



0^5. Known to every one, — and uniTersally cultivated for the young 
or green fruit. The young fruit (sometimes called Gherkins) is much 
used for Pickles. In the Middle Scates, the popular time for planting 
the seeds is the first day of May, before sunrise." 
3. C. Axgu'eia, X. Stem prostrate, slender : leaves palmate-lobed and 
sinuate, cordate at base ; fruit sula-glolDose or oval, echinate. 
Prickly Cucumber. Jerusalem Cucumber. 

Hirsute. Root O-mmsl. >S'(!m 3-6 feet long, branching ; ^ewIriZ.? simple. Leaves o~i 
inclies in length, deeply sinuate-lohed ; pa!ioZes 1 - 2 inches long. Flowers greenish yel- 
low, on short axillarj'^^ peduncles. Fruii usually ahout an inch and a half long, oval, mari- 
cate, green. 

Gardens : cultivated. Native of Jamaica. PJ. July -August. J'a September. 

Obs. Occasionally cultivated for the young fruit. — which is used for 
Pickles. 

3. CITRUL'LUS, Neck. TTatek-melon. 

[From Citrus, an Orange ; the pulp being mostly Orange red.] 

Calyx deeply 5-cleft, — the segments linear-lanceolate. Petals 5, connect- 
ed at base, adnate to the bottom of the calyx. Stamens 5, inserted on 
the base of the corolla, triadelphous. Style cylindric, trind ; stigmas 
convex, reniform-cordate. Fruit sub-globose, fleshy, the placentae mostly 
very succulent. Seeds numerous, colored, ob ovate-oblong, compressed 
truncate at base and obtuse on the margin. 

1. 0. yulga'eis, Schrad. Stem prostrate, rather slender ; leaves some- 
what 5-lobed, the lobes obtusely sinuate-pinuatifid, bluish glaucous 
beneath ; flowers solitary, pedunculate, with a single bract ; fruit glo- 
bose or oval, very smooth, stellate-maculate. 
CoMMOx CiTEUiJLUs. Watcr-melon. 

Ft. Melon d'eau. Germ. Die Wasser Meloue. Span. Sandia. 

Plant hairy. Root annual. Stem 8-12 or 15 feet long, angular, somewhat branching , 
tendrils branched. Leaves 3 - 5 or 6 inches long, orate in their outline ; pelioles2-8 inches 
long, generaUy erect. Flowers axillary, on hairy peduncles an inch or more in length. 
Corolla pale greenish yellow. F-uit 10 - 20 inches long, globose or oval, with a firm fleshy 
rind, and, when mature, with a tender sweet watery pulp "ttithin, which is usually purple 
or reddish orange-colored (sometimes nearly white). &eds black or purplish brown. 

Gardens and fields : cultivated. Native of India and Africa. i^Z. June -August. F: 
August - Sept emb er . 

Obs. This plant — so well known for its delicious fruit — is extensively 
cultivated, — but succeeds best in the sandy soils along the Atlantic 
coast, or on the alluvial banks of our Western waters. There is a 
nearly allied plant, often seen in gardens, which bears a considerably 
difierent fruit — known by the name of " Citron.'" the firm rind of which 
is used in making " Sweet meats or Preserves. The flesh is very firm, 
and the centre does not become red, tender nor watery, like the common 
Water-melon : yet the whole aspect of the plant, and external appear- 
ance of the fruit, so closely resemble this species, that I suppose it may 
be nothing more than a variety : perhaps the var. Fasteca, Ser. 



GOUKD FAillLT. 



141 



4. Sl'CiOS, L. OXE-SEEDED StA ^-CUCUilBEE. 
[The ancient Greek nama.for the Cucumber.] 

Petals 5, united below into a bell- 
shaped or flattish corolla. Stamens 
5, all cohering. Ovary 1-celled ; style 
slender ; stigmas 3. Frw.t ovate, 
compressed, dry and membranaceous, 
filled by a single seed, beset with 
barbed prickles. Climbing annuals, 
resembling the common Cucumber 
vine : fruit in capitate clusters. 

1. S. angula'tus, L. Leaves cor- 
date at base, augulate 5-lobed ; fruit 
prickly and villous in small, dense, 
pedunculate clusters. 
AxGtxATE SiCTOs. OuG-seeded star- 
cucumber. 

Vi?cid pubescent. Stem 15 - 20 feet long, slen- 
der, branching ; tendrils somewhat umbeliately 
branched. Leaves B -5 or 6 inches long, a Ld 
about as wide as long ; petioles 2-3 inches in 
length. Flowers greenish-white, clustered 
on axillary common peduncles 1-5 inches in 
length, the' staminate ones corymbose capitate 
with the peduncle longer ; the pistillate ones in 
dense capitate clusters. Fruit compressed, 
ovate in stellately-globose heads, which are 
about an inch in diameter , and armed with 
slender tawny spines. 

River banks. July -Sept. 

Obs. This cucumber-like Vine has 
found its way into gardens where 
it is a nuisance rather difficult to 
get rid of. It is, according to Dr. 
Short, a great pest in the rich corn- 
fields of Kentucky, - springing up 
after the crop ' is laid by' and so ex- 
tending from one corn-stalk to another as to make it extremely difficult 
to pass through the field."' The Balsam Apple (Momokdica' Balsam- 
IXA, L.), the red fruit of which, made into a tincture, was formerly 
used as an application to wounds, belongs to this section and is some- 
times cultivated in gardens. ^ 

Petals united U'ith each other and with the cahjx. 




Fig. Go. The One-seeded Star-cucumber (Sicyos angulatus). 



142 



WEEDS AND USEFUL PLANTS. 



5. CUCUR'BITA, L. Squash and Pl^ipkix. 

[The Latinized Celtic name foi- a Goui-d or hollow vessel.] 

Calyx-tube ovoid club-shaped ; limb circumcissed and deciduous. Corolla 
bell-shaped. Fruit fleshy or finally hard and somewhat woody. Seeds 
white, obovate, convexly compressed, the margin scarcely tumid. Trail- 
ing annuals with subcordate leaves, branching tendrils and yellow axillary 
subsolitary flowers. 

* Fruit always fleshy. 

1. C. Pe'po, L. Leaves obtusely cordate, somewhat 5-lobed ; fruit 
subglobose oblong or clavate, smooth, always fleshy. 

Pumpkin. 

Ft. La grosse Citrouille. Potiron. 

Rough and hispid. Soot annual. Stem 10-20 or SO feet long, sparingly branched; 
branched. Leaves 9-15 or 18 inches in length ; petioles 3-6 or 8 inches long. 
Floicers yellow, large, axillary, — the staminate ones often sohtarj' on a long peduncle. 
ty-uit of various forms, sizes and colors, — the flesh of the rind usually yellow, the cavity 
loosely filled with a yellow stringy pulp. 

Fields and lots : cultivated (usually with Indian Corn, in Pennsvlvania). Native df 
tho East. Fl. July. Fr. October. 

Obs. Extensively cultivated for its fruit, — of which there are many 
varieties ; some of them attaining to an enormous size (2 feet or more 
in diameter), — but these are not so valuable. The better sorts are 
often used at table, — aflbrding the celebrated Pumpkin Pie of Ivew 
England ; and the coarser varieties are esteemed for feeding stock. 
"When growing in the immediate vicinity of Squashes, the fruit of this 
species is liable to be converted into a Hybrid, of little or no value. I 
have had a crop of Pampkms totally spoiled, by inadvertently planting 
Squashes among them, — the fruit becoming very hard and warty — unfit 
for the table, and unsafe to give to cattle. 

■^"^ Fruit finally becoming sublignecus. 

2. 0. Me'lopepo, L. Leaves subcordate, somewhat 5-angied ; fruit 
mostly orbicular and much depressed, with the margin often tumid and 
torulose, at first fleshy, finally subligneous. 

Round Squash. Cymling. 

Fr. Bonnet de Pretre. Pastissou. 

Hirsute. Boot annual. Stem 8-12 or 15 feet long, somewhat branching; tendrils 
branched, — sometimes transformed or developed into imperfect leaves. Leaves 6-8 
inches long ; petioles as long as the leaves. Flowers yellow, rather large, pedunculate. - 
Fruit of various colors (mostlj^ yellow, pale green, or mottled) , smooth or sometimes 
warty, — the ]-ind finally hard and woody, containing a loose stringy pulp. 

Fields and gardens : cultivated. Native country uncertain. Fl. July. Fi: October. 

Obs. Cultivated for the young fruit, — which is generally esteemed, as 
a vegetable sauce. There are numerous varieties of the fruit— aod of 
various qualities. There is also a kind of stunted variety of the plant,, 
with a short bushy stem, which is often a prolific bearer. 



SAXIFEAGE FAMILT. 



143 



3. C. VERRUCo'sA, L. Leaves deeply 5-lobecl, tlie middle lobe narrowed 
at base ; fruit elliptic-oblong, or clavate and of^en arcuate, verrucose. 
Warty Cucurbita. "Warted Squash. Long-necked Squash. 

Hirsute. Root annual. Stem 10-15 feet long, somewliat branching ; tendrils branched. 
Leaves 8-10 inches long ; petioles nearly as long as the leaves. Flowers yellow, rather 
large. Fruit varying from oblong to obovoid and clavate, often m«ch elongated and 
curved, rough with warts or obtuse tubercles, and of various colors, or shades, from yel- 
low to green and white, finally hard and subligneous or bony. 

Lots and gardens : cuhivated. Native country imknown. J^L July. i^/-. October. 

Obs. Cultivated as the preceding (to which it is nearly allied), — and 
for the same purposes. Both species are apt to produce worthless Hy- 
brids among- Pumpkins, when growing near them ; and therefore should 
never be planted in their immediate vicinity. 

Order XXXI. SAXIFEAGA'CE^. (Saxifrage Family.) 

Herbs or shrubs, with alternate or opposite, sometimes stipulate leaves, and various, often 
cymose inflorescence. Sepals 4-5, persistent, more or less connected with each other, and 
olien more or less adherent to the ovary. Petals as many as the sepals, — rarely want- 
ing. Stamens as many — or more commonly twice as many as the petals, and inserted 
with them into the throat of the calyx. Ovaries mostly 2, cohering at base and dis- 
tinct at summit. Fruit capsular, ^eecfe numerous ; embryo straight, in the axis of fleshy 
albumen. 

An unimportant Order to the Agriculturist, — though some species of Hydrangea and 
Ftiiladelphus are admired, and cultivated as Ornamental Shrubs. 

1. SAXI'FEAGA, L. Saxifrage. 

[Latin, Saxum, a rock, and frangere, to break ; the plant often growing in clefts of rocks.] 

Calyx 5-parted, often adnate to the base of the ovary. Petals 5, entire. 
S*a'mens mostly 10 (rarely 5). Capsule usually 2-beaked, — or rather 
consisting of 2 acuminate connate carpels, opening between the diverg- 
ing beaks. Radical leaves usually rosulate ; caidine ones mostly alter- 
nate. 

1. S. Pennsylyan'ica, L. Leaves all radical, oblanceolate or oval, rath- 
er acute, obsoletely denticulate, tapering at base to a broad margined 
petiole ; scape leafless, striate, pubescent ; cymes in an oblong panicle ; 
flowers pedicellate ; petals linear-lanceolate, scarcely twice as long as the 
calyx ; ovary nearly free. 

Pennsylvania Saxifrage. Tall Saxifrage. 

Root perennial, with coarse fibres. Leaves 4-6 or 8 inches long, thin and smoothish, 
somewhat cibate. Scape 2-3 (occasionally 4-5) feet high, rather stout, sulcate-striate. 
Cymes at first in conglomerate heads — finally rather loose, in an oblong open panicle 
12-18 inches in length,— the branches glandular-pubescent and somewhat viscid. Petals 
greenish yellow, small. Stamens persistent ; anthers orange-colored with a tinge of pur- 
ple. Seeds angular, dark brown. 

Swampy meadows and low ground : Canada to Virginia and Ohio. Fl. May. Fr. July. 

- Obs. There are numerous species of Saxifrage on this continent, (a 
white-flowered one, — viz. : S. Virginiensis, Mx. i? very common on 
rocky banks, in the woodlands of the middle States) : but this is the only 



U4 



"SVEEDS AXD USEFUL PLA^"TS. 



one wliich, by its size, and frequent occurrence in wet meadows is likely 
to attract the notice of the farmer. It is a mere weed, but not difficult 
to get rid of, bv draining and proper attention. The Heuchera Ameri- 
cana, L., or Alum-root — a plant belougiog to this order, is frequent 
along fence-rows and borders of rich woodlands. — and its astringent 
root has been of some notoriety as an Indian remedy for cancerous sores : 
but it is scarcely of sufficient prominence, on the farm, to command the 
attention of the Agriculturist. 

Order XXXTI. HAMAMELA'CE^E. (Witch-hazel Fa-MIly.) 

Slirubs or trees vrith alternate, simple leaves, deciduous stipvles and polygamous or mo- 
naecious^wers in heads or spikes. Calyz coliering with tJie base of the orarr. Pistils 
2, united below. Fruit a 2-beaked 2-celled woody pod, opening at the sumnr;: with one 
or two bony seeds Lu each cell ; enibryo large in a sparing albumen ; pdals sometimes 
wahting. 

• Flowers with calyx and corolla, and a single ovule suspended from the 
summit of each cell. 

1. HA^IA^^IE'LIS, L. Witch-hazel. 

[Greek, Hama, like to, and Melis, an apple tree : application not obvious.] 

Flowers in little axillary clusters, with an involucre of 3 scale-like leaf- 
lets ; calyx 4-parted, with 2-3 bracilets at base. Petals 4, long and 
linear. Stamens 8, very short ; the 4 alternate with the petals having 
anthers, the others imperfect and scale-like. Capsule opening loculicid- 
ally from the top ; the outer coat separating from the inner, which en- 
closes the large and bony seed in each cell, but soon bursts elastically 
into two pieces. 

1, H. Virgin'ica, L. Leaves obovate or oval, sinuate-dentate, sub- 
cordate at base, stellately pubescent. 
YiRGixiAX Hamamelis. Witch-hazel. 

stem 6-12 feet high, with straggling tiexuose branches. Leaves 2-6 inches long 5 
peiioZ<;5 about half an inch in length. Floivars greenish-j-ellow, clustered in threes, on a 
common peduncle near half an inch long ; petnU narrow, linear, a little crisped, about ^ 
of an inch in length. Seeds black and shining. 

Damp woods. Fl. October, the fruit perfecting ta the September following. 

Obs. This shrub is worthy of cultivation by the curious, on account of 
the singular lateness of its flowers, which appear at the time when most 
trees are shedding their leaves. The flowers are often seen as late ag 
]S"ovember, when the leaves have all fallen. It is said to grow readily 
in a moist situation. The twigs of the Witch-hazel were used in the days 
of superstition and witchcraft as divining rods, to indicate the position 
of hidden springs of water or deposits of precious ores, — a belief in their 
efficacy is not even now wholly extinct. * 

Flowers naked, with barely the rudnnents of a calyx, and no corolla^ 
crowded in catkin-like heads, Oiules several or many in each cell. 



PAESLET FAMILY. 



145 



2. LIQUID AM 'BAE, L. (Sweet-gum.) 

[Name compoimded from Latin. Liquidus, fluid, and Arabic, Ambar, amber ; in allusion 
to a fragrant liquid that sometimes exudes from the tree.] 

F/oifers usually monoecious, in globular heads or catkins; sterile fowers 
in conical clusters, naked ; stamens numerous, intermixed with minute 
scales. Fertile flowers consisting of many 2-celled, 2-beaked ovaries, sub- 
tended by minute scales in place of a calyx, all more or less cohering and 
hardening in fruit, forming a spherical head ; the pods opening between 
the 2 awl-shaped beaks. Styles 2, stigmatic down the inner side. Ovules 
many, but only one or two perfecting. Seeds with a wing-angled seed- 
coat!^ Catkins racemed, nodding in the bud enclosed by a 4-leaved decid- 
uous involucre. 

1. L. styracif 'lua, L. Leaves rounded, deeply 5 - 7-lobed, smooth and 
shining, glandular-serrate, the lobes pointed. 

Sweet Gum. Bilsted. 

A large tree, 60-70 feet high and 2 or more feet in diameter ; the corky layer of the 
bark often developed in ridges on the smaller branches. Leaves 3-5 inches in diameter, 
BO deeply lobed as to appear star-shaped, fragrant when bruised. Fruit a globose prickly 
head, an inch or more in diameter. 

Woods. Connecticut, southward. Fl. April. Fr. September. 

Obs. One of our finest forest trees, and deserving of more attention 
than it has yet received. It is especially conspicuous in autumn, when 
its beautiful star-shaped leaves assume a deep crimson color. The wood 
is fine-grained but warps readily, and soon decays when exposed to mois- 
ture. The balsamic liquid, from which the tree receives both its gene- 
ric and specific names, does not seem to be developed at the north. It 
has been obtained from trees growing irj the warm parts of the Union : 
it is an aromatic liquid, having the consistence of honey, and has the 
stimulant qualities of the Storax of the shops. ^ 



Oeder XXXin. UMBELLIF'ER^. (Parsley Family.) 

Herbs with usually hollow and furrowed stems, alternate, generally much dissected leaves 
v^ilh petvAes more or less dilated and sheathing at base, and flowers in usually ivolucrate 
umbels. Calyx entirely adherent to the ovary, the limb obsolete or merely a toothed bor- 
der. Stamens and petals 5, inserted, alternately in the disk that crowns the ovary and 
surrounds the base of the 2 styles ; petals mostly with an inflexed point. Fruit of 2 seed- 
like dry carpels (mertca?-j5s) , cohering by their inner face, marked with 5 primary ribs 
and often with 5 intermediate (secondary) ones ; the spaces between the ribs often con- 
taining receptacles of aromatic oil (oil-tubei). Seeds solitary, suspended ; embryo minute, 
in the apex of copious horny albumen. 

The plants of this family can only be satisfactorily studied with the full-grown fruit. 
Tlie number of oil-tubes is best seen by making a slice across the fruit and examining it 
with a magnifier. 

This large and important Order comprises about 200 genera, — and is remarkable for the 
aromatic and generally harmless character of the fruit — while the herbage (iuclading 
root, stem and leaves), is often highly deleterious. The species best known on the farm, 
and in the kitchen-garden, are here noticed. Some medicinal gums are furnished by this 
Order, such as .^safoetida, Galbanum and Ammoniac. 

7 



146 



^VEEDS AXD USEFUL TLAIsTS. 



Diner face of tne seeds flat (not hollowed out) , where the two halves 
of the fruit join. 

Fruit with long prickles. Umbel becoming coEcave. 1. Dacccu. 

Fruit not prickly bat winged on the margin. 

Flowers j-ellow. All alike. 2. 
Flowers white, the outer corollas larger. S. 
Flowers white, all alike ; leaves pinnate or 3-foliolate. 4. 
Fruit neither prickly nor winged on the margin. 

Flowers yellow"; leaflets long and narrow. 5. 
Flowers white. 

Umbels usually without involucre or involucels. 

Divisions of the leaves very slender. 6. 
Divisions or leaflets wedge-shaped. 7. 
Divisions or leaflets ovate or lanceolate. 8. 
Umbels with 3-leaved involucels but no involucre. 9. 
Umbels with both involucre and involucels. 

Leaves decompound, finely divided. 10. 
Leaves 2-3 times compound ; leaflets coarse. 11. 
Inner face of the seed grooved or hollowed out dow^n the whole length 
of the inner face. 

Leaves finely cut, with an unpleasant odor. . 12. 

Inner face of the seed curved in at the top and bottom. 

Flowers white. 13. 



PASTIXACi. 

Archemora. 

FOEXICULUil, 



Carot. 

APitru. 

^GOPODirJI. 
^THCSA. 

PETROSErnXM 
CiCCTA. 



CORLtN"DRUSI. 



1. DAU'CUS, Tournef. Cakrot. 

[DauJcos, the ancient Greek name of the Carrot.] 

Calyx 5-toothed. Corolla irregular. Fruit ovoid oblong, somewhat 
dorsally compressed. Carpels with the 5 primary ribs slender and 
minately bristly, the 4 secondary ribs equal, prominently winged, and each 
pectinately cleft into a single row of prickles with an oil tube under each 
of them. Involvxre many-leaved ; leaflets pinnatifid. Involucels many- 
leaved ; leaflets trifid or entire. Biennials with leaves bi- or tri-pinnately 
dissected. 

1. D. Caro'ta, L. Stem hispid; leaves 2 - 3-pinnatifid ; segments pin- 
natifid, the lobes lanceolate and cuspidate ; leaflets of the involucre 
nearly as long as the umbel ; prickles about equal to the diameter of the 
oblong-oval fruit. 

Carrot Daucus. Carrot. Wild Carrot. 

Fr. Carotte. Germ. Die Moehre. Span. Zanahoria. 

Plant greyish-green, hispidly pilose. Root fusiform, yellowish or orange-colored. 
(Sfeni 2-3 or 4 feet high, rather slender, terete, sulcate-striate, branching. Leaves twice 
or thrice pinnatifid ; segments half an inch to an inch long, much incised. Umbels on long 
peduncles or naked brandies, nearly level on the top wlieu in flower — concave when in 
fruit. Petals white or ochroleucous — occasionally with a purplish tinge — the central floret 
of the umbel often abortive, with fleshy dark purple peta's. Iruit very hispid, the 
prickles on the secondary ribs somewhat "barbed. 

Gardens, fields and road-sides : introduced. Xative of Europe and the East. Fl. July- 
Sept. JV. Sept. -October. 

Obs. The var. sativa, DC, or common Garden Carrot — with a large 
fleshy yellow or reddish orange-colored root^ — is much cultivated as a 
culinary vegetable, for soups, &:c. In Europe, it is bighly esteemed as 
a food for Milch Cows, and other stock, during winter : but in this 
country, the root culture, for such objects, is but little attended to, 
probably less than it ought to be. The wild variety is extensively natu- 



PAKSLEY FAMILY. 



147 




ralized, and threatens to become a troublesome pest, on our farms. 
When it gets on the premises of a careless slovenly farmer, it soon mul- 
tiplies so as to become a source of annoyance to the whole neighborhood. 
It should be diligently eradicated before it matures its seeds. 

2. PASTINA'CA, Tournef. Parsnip. 

[Latin, Pastus, food ; from the use made of the I'oot.] 

Calyx-teeth obsolete. FrvAt oval, flatly compressed, with a dilated fiat 
margin. Carpels ribbed as in Heracleum. Oil-tubes one in each channel 
between- the ribs, and two on the inner face of the carpel, as long as the 
carpels. Involucre and involucels 0, or few-leaved. Stem sulcate, smooth. 
Leaves pinnately dissected ; the leaflets incised-dentate or lobed. 
1. P. SATi'vA, L. Leaflets in 3 - 4 pairs with a terminal odd one, ovate- 
oblong, rather obtuse, incised-dentate, sessile ; the terminal one 3-lobed 
and petiolulate. 

CcxTiVATED Pastixaca. Parsuip. Garden Parsnip. 

Fr. Panais potager. Germ. Die Pastinake. Span. Chirivia. 

Plant yellowish-green. Root biennial, fusiform, large and fleshy. Stem 3-5 feet hign, 
rather stout, furrowed and flstular, somewhat branching. ieq/Zefe 2 -4 inches long — the 
primary leaves of the young plant orbicular-cordate and incisely crenate. Umbels nearly 
level on the top. Petals yellow, small, with the apex incurved or rolled in. Fruit thin 
or very flatly compressed on the back. Bibs filiform ; channels greenish-yellow ; oil-tubes 
dark purple, generally linear, sometimes a little clavate. 

Gardens : cultivated. Xative of Europe. i^Z. June -August, i^r. August -October. 

' Obs. Generally cultivated for its fine esculent root, which, in the best 
varieties (such as that called the " Guernsey Parsnip'"), is remarkably 
rich and marrow-like. The plant produces many seeds, and is apt to 



Fig 96. An umbel of the Carrot [Daucus Carota]. 97. An enlarged fruit. 98. The 
Bame divided, showing an oil-tube under each of the prickly secondary ribs. 



148 



WEEDS AXD USEFUL PLJ^JSTS. 



stray from the garden into the fields, ^^"liere it speedily degenerates, and, 
if neglected, becomes a troublesome unsightly weed. 



Fruit broadly winged-margined ; carpels slenderly 5-ribbcd, the lateral 
ones close to the margin ; oil-tubes shorter than the carpels. Stout ^eren- 
nials ; leaves large, ternately dissected; petioles broad and sheathing; 
umbels flat, large, the cuter flowers commonly larger and appeariDg 2-clei't ; 
involucre few-leaved, deciduous ; ij^ro/wce/./many-leaved. 



H. lana'tnm, Mx. Woolly ; stem sulcate ; segments of the leavra 
broad, palmate-lobed, subcordate at base. 
Woolly Heeacleoi. Cow-parsnip. Masterwort. 

stem 4-8 feet high, branched above. Segments of the leaves 4-10 or 12 inches in length 
and as wide as long, the middle one often 3-iobed ; petioles 1 - 4 inches long. Uvrbels some- 
times a foot or more in breadth, the rays 2-6 inches long. Involucels of 5-8 leaves, 
which are lanceolate, with a long slender point. Floicei's white. 

Rich low gromids. More common northward. May - July. 

Obs. This very conspicuous strong-scented plant is sometimes used in 
medicine. The seeds are aromatic. The root is very acrid when fresh, 
and produces blisters when applied to the skin. Much of its acridity is 
lost by drying, and in this state it is used as a stimulant. The plant has 
a doubtful reputation, and should be used with caution. 



Calyx 5-toothed. Fruit elliptic-ovate, convex or lenticularly compressed. 
Carpels with 5 equidistant obtuse ribs, the lateral ones dilated into a 
flattish thin-edged margin. Oil-tubes one in each channel, and 4 - 6 on 
the inner face. Involucre 0 or few-leaved, i/it'o/uce/s many-leaved. Stem 



3. HEEACLE'UM, L. Cow-paksxip. 

[Dedicated to Hercules.] 




JOO 




Fig. 99. Fruit of the Cow Parsnip (Hcracloura lanatum,) in which the oil-tubes do not 
fill the whole length of the channels. 100. The same cut across, "both enlarged. 



PAKSLEY FAillLT. 



149 



terete, striate. Leaves pinnately or ternately dissected, the ratter rigid 
leaflets entire or sparingly toothed near the apex. 

1. A. rig'ida, DC. Leaflets 3 -9, sessile, oblong-iauceolate. very entire 
or remotely incised-dentate near the apex ; umbels terminal and subter- 
minal, on long peduncles. 

Rigid or stiff Arceemora. Cow-bane. Wild Parsnip. 

Whole plant smooth. Root perennial. Stem 2 - 4 or 5 feet high, rather slender, sparingly 
branched above. Leaves all simply pseudo-pinnate ; common pelioles 1-5 or 6 inches long, 
channeled and somewhat margined ; leaficLs or segments 2 - 3 or 4 inches long — varj-ing from 
linear to ovat.:!-lanceolate and cuueate-obloag, often a little falcate. Umbels about 3, on rather 
I'ng suleate-striate peduncles. Involucre 0, or sometimes of 2-3 lance-linear leaflets. Invo- 
Z(«.ek of 6-8 subulate-linear leaflets. Pe/«Z.s white. Channels filled to convexity by the 
dark purple oil-tubes. Inner face of the carpels a little concave, lined with a white corky 
coat. 

:;\\-ampy meadows and low grounds : Xew York to Louisiana. Fl. August. Fr. Oct. 

Obs. This is reputed to be an active poison, particularly to horned 
cattle, when eaten by them ; and therefore every farmer is interested in 
knowing the plant, and causing it to be eradicated from his meadows 
and pastures. It varies somewhat in its features ; but the above is a 
description O' its usual form, in Peimsylvania. 

5. FCENIC'ULUM, Aclans. Fennel. 

[Latin, diminutive o? Fcenum, hay ; from a resemblance in its odor.] 

Fruit elliptic-oblong, subterete. Carpels with 5 obtuse keeled ribs, of 
which the lateral ones are marginal, and often a little broader. Channels 
with single oil-tubes. Involucre and involuce's 0. Biennial or perennial. 
Stems terete, striate. Leaves decompound, pinnately dissected, the seg- 
ments linear. Flowers yellow. 

1. F. vulga're, Gacrtn. Segments of the leaves subulate-linear, elon- 
gated ; umbels many-rayed. 
Common Fceniculum. Fennel. Garden Fennel. 
Fr. Fenouil. Germ. Der Fenchel. Span. Hinojo. 

Plant smooth. JRooi perennial ? (biennial, Z)C.). Stem 4-5'or 6 feet high, branching, 
Btriate-grooved, purplish-green and somewhat glaucous ; leaves large, finely and somewhat 
biternately dissected ; segments an inch to an inch and a half long, almost filiform, the sub- 
divisions often dichotomous : commrm petioles much dilated, sheathing, produced into 2 mar- 
ginal lobes at summit. Umbels of 15-20 or 30 unequal rays. 

Gardens : cultivated. Native of Europe. Fl. July. Fr. September. 

Obs. The whole plant is highly aromatic. Those who kept Bees, in 
former years, were much in the practice, when those insects swarmed, of 
rubbing the inside of the bee-hive with this fragrant herb, under the 
impression that the odor would attach them to their new domicil. It is 
chiefly cultivated for its aromatic fruit, which is occasionally used in 
domestic economy ; and is sometimes smoked, like tobacco, as a popular 
remedy for cholic. Those who have read the charming pictures of early 
New England life, in " Goodrich's EecoUections of a Lifetime," will 
recollect the mention of the custom of the old ladies to carry to church 



150 



VrEEDS AXD USEFUL PLA^TTS. 



with them sprigs of fennel to lieep thera a^ake during the long strraon, 
a practice which is not entirely obsolete. In the more primitive portiong 
of the country, the patch of fennel may still be seen growing, and the 
sanctuary is still redolent of its odors. * 

6. CA'EUM, Koch. Caeaway. 

[Said to be derived from Carta — the native country of the plant. 

Fruit ovate or oblong. Carpels with 5 filiform equal ribs. Channels 
with single oil-tubes. Involucre and involucels mostly wanting. Stems 
striate, smooth. Leaves pinnately dissected ; segments multifid. Flotu- 
ers white. 

1. C. Ca'pxi, L. Leaves somewhat bipinnatifid, the segments linear ; 
involucre 1-leaved or 0 ; involucels 0. 
Carian Carum. Common Caraway. 

Fr. Carvi. Germ. Gemeiner Kuemmei. Suan. Alcaravea. 

Root biennial? (perennial, DC), fusiform. Steyn about 2 feet high, branched. Radical 
leaves rather large ; stem leaves multifid, the segments filiform. Petofe white. F/-uit oblong 
or elliptic, often obhque at apex. 

Gardens': cultivated. Native of Europe. J^. June. Fr. August. 

Obs. This is sometimes cultivated for its highly aromatic fruit, — which 
is used to impart a flavor to cakes, and other articles of cookery. 

7. A'Pnj:M, L. Celery. 

[From the Celtic, Apon, water ; near which it naturally grows. J 

Fruit roundish. Carpels with 5 filiform equal ribs. Channels with sin- 
gle oil-tubes, the outer ones often with 2-3. Involucre and involucels 0. 
Stems sulcate. Leaves pinnately dissected, with wedge-shaped divisions. 

1. A. grave'olens, L. var. dulce. Lower leaves on very long petioles ; 
segments cuneate, lobed. 

Strong-scented Apium. Celery. 

Fr. Celeri. Germ. Der Celeri. Span. Apio horteuse. 

Whole plant glabrous. Root biennial, fusiform. Stem 2-3 feet high, brar-chicg. 
Radical leaves on stout succulent channeled jre^i&Zes, 6-12 inches or more in ler.gtL . and 
which are green, or often pm-plish, when, not artificially blanched; stem ""eaves on short 
petioles. Unibeh terminal and axillary, — the axillary ones often subsessile . -/a?/!' unequal, 
spreading. PeiaZs greenish -white, i^z-wif nearly orbicular. 

Gardens : cultivated. Native of Europe. Fl. July. Fr. September. 

Obs. This is much cultivated for the sake of the succulent spicy petioles 
of the radical leaves, — which are used os a salad : but in order to be 
rendered palatable— or even eatable — -they recpiire to be blanched or 
etiolated by the exclusion of light, — which is usually effected by planting 
in trenches and covering theni with earth. The var. rapaceum, DC, or 
Turnip-rooted Celery, is also cultivated,— though not so commonly. 



TAESLEY FAMILY. 



151 



Involucres and involucels 



8. ^GOPO'DIUM, L. Goat's-foot. 

[Greek, Aix, a goat, and jjodion, a little foot.] 

Fruit oblong, crowned with the conical bases of the deflexed styles. 
Carpels with 5 slender ridges, without oil-tubes. Leaves ternate or bi- 
ternate with broad pointed serrated leaflets, 
none. 

1. jE. Podagra' ria, L. Eoot perennial, creeping 
extensively ; stems robust, hollow, furrowed, 
glabrous ; leaflets ovate or lanceolate, acuminate 
unequally toothed ; the lower leaves on long 
petioles ;'the upper merely 3-cleft ; umbels many- 
rayed ; petals white. 

Goat's-foot. Goat-weed. Herb Gerarde. 

stem about a foot aul a half high. Fruil very seldom 
perfected. 

Ohs. This, which is considered an exceeding- 
ly troublesome weed in England, has made its 
appearance in some parts of Pennsylvania, and proves to be a nuisance 
not easily abated. It has hitherto resisted all attempts to get rid of it ; 
Don, in his General System of Gardening, &c., says that " being a great 
creeper it cannot be admitted into gardens, for after it gets hold it is next 
to impossible to eradicate it again." The leaves are said to be used in 
the same manner as Parsley, which accounts for Don's cautioning against 
introducing it. Such an invader should be carefully watched and its 
spread arrested. 

9. JETHU'SA, L. Fool's Paeslet. 

[Greek, aUho, to burn ; on account of its acrid qualities.] 

Calyx teeth obsolete. Fruit ovate globose ; the carpels each with 5 
thick, sharply-keeled ridges : intervals with single oil-tubes. Annual 
erect poisonous herbs with 2-3 ternately compound and many cleft 




101 



leaves. Involucre none ; involucels 1-3 leaved. 
1. jE. Cijna'piurn, L. Segments of the leaves 
wedge-lanceolate ; involucels 3-leaved, long 
and narrow. 
Fool's Parsley. 

stem 1-2 feet high, hollow not spotted. Leaves with 
ultimate lobes linear-lanceolate. Umbels terminal and 
opposita the leaves ; rays very unequal, the longest 
scarcely an inch in length. Involucels 1-sided. Fruit 
nearJy as broad as long, with very prominent ribs. 

Cultivated grounds and waste places. Xative of 
Europe. July -September. 

Ohs. This poisonous plant is naturalized 
in New England ; it somewhat resembles the 
Poison Hemlock, from which it is distin- 



Flowers white. 




103 



Fig. 101. Fruit of the Goatsfoot [^^Isonodium Podagraria] 102. A section. 
Fig. 10.3. The fruit of Fool's Parsley.' 104. The same, cut across. 105. A petal with 
111? point bont inwar Is 



152 



WEEDS AND USEFUL PLAJfTS. 



guished by its unspotted stem, the long pendulous one-sided involucela 
and the straight ridges of the fruit. 

10. PETEOSELI'NUM, Hoffm. Parsley. 

[Greek, Pdra, rock, and Selinum ; Rock Seliuum,— from its Dative habitat.] 

Fruit ovate. Carpels with 5 equal ribs. Channels with single oil-tubes 
and two on the inner face of the carpels. Involucre Jew-leaved. Invo 
lucels many-leaved. Stems somewhat angular. Leaves decompound. 
1. P. SATi'vLM, Hcffm. Segments of the lower leaves cuneate-ovate, 
trifid and incised-deutate, — of the upper ones linear-lanceolate and nearly 
entire ; involucels subulate. 
Cultivated Petroselinum. Parsley. 
Fr. Persil. Germ. Die Petersilie. Span. Perexil. 

Plant smooth. Root biennial. ,S^em 2-4 feet high, striate with green and yellowish 
Btripes, branched. Leaves shining green, the lower ones much dissected. Umbels terminal 
and axillary, pedunculate. Involucre of a single leaflet (or sometimes 2-3) linear. Invo- 
lucels of 5 - 6 short subulate leaflets. Petals greenish-white. Fruit ovate. 

Gardens : cultivated. Native of Eastern Europe. Ft. June. J^-. August. 

Ohs. Cultivated for the pleasant-flavored leaves which are used in 
culinary processes. The root has long been a popular diuretic. The 
var. cRispuM, or Curled Parsley — with the segments of the lower leaves 
broader, and curled on the margin — is also frequent in kitchen gardens 

11. CICU'TA, L. Water-hemlock. 

[Latin name of the Hemlock.] 
Calyx with 5 minute teeth. Fruit roundish. Carpels with 5 equal fiat- 
tish ribs, with a single oil-tube in each interval. Involucre few-leaved. 
Involucels many-leaved. Sub-aquatic Jierbs. Stem terete, smooth, fistular. 
Leaves tripinnately or triternately dissected. 

1. C. macula'ta, L. Stem spotted or streaked ; 
leaves bi- or tri-ternately divided, — the segments 
lanceolate, mucronately serrate, the nerves ter- 
minating in the notches. 

Spotted Cicuta. Spotted Cow-bane. Water 
Hemlock. 

Root perennial, with thick oblong fleshy fibres. Stcra 4-6 
feet high, branching, dark purple, or striate with grecu and 
-iQg purple or brown ; leaves smooth, the lower ones on rather 

long petioles, triteru;itc--jy dissected with the terminal 
div-ision mostly in fives ; segments or leaflets 2-3 inches long, petiolulate, penninerved— 
the nerves (as remarked by Dr. Bigelow,) running to the notches of the serratures mstead 
of the points. Umbels spreading ; ravs slender. Involua-e 0 or 1 - 2 linear leaflets. Invo~ 
JufcZs of 5-6 small lance-linear leaflets. Petals while. Fruit nearly round; ribs rather 
broad ; channels reddish-brown or dark purple, filled with aromatic oily matter. 




Fig. 106. The fruit of the Water Hemlock [Cicuta maculata]. 107. A scct'ou of the 
Bame 



PAESLET FAMILY. 



153 



Swampy grounds and margins of rivulets : ttu-ougliout the United States. Fl. Jii'.y. FY. 
September. 

Obs. The mature fruit of this plant has a strong auisate odor. The 
rcot is an active poison ; and the lives of children, "and others, are often 
endangered and sometimes destroyed by eating it, in mistake for that 
of the Sweet Cicely [Osmorhiza longistylis, DC.) — an aromatic plant 
of the same natural family. The herbage is also said to be destructive 
to cattle, when eaten by them • all which goes to show the propriety 
of possessing sufficient Botanical knowledge to be able to identify the 
plant — and likewise the necessity of extirpating it from all meadows 
and pastures. 

12. COXI'UM, L. Poisox-nEiiLOCK. 

[From Koneion, the Greek name of the Hemlock.] 

Fruit ovate, compressed or contracted at the sides. Carpels with 5 
prominent equal ribs which are undulate-creuulate when immature, — the 
inner face with a deep narrow groove ; oil-tubes none. Involucre few- 
leaved. Livoh'.ccls dimidiate or one-sided, about 3-leaved. 

1. C. inacula'tum, D. Stem terete, spotted ; leaves tripinnately dis- 
sected, — segments lanceolate, pinnatifid, the lobes acute and often in- 
cised ; leaflets of the involucels lanceolate, shorter than the umbellets. 

Spotted Coxium. Common Hemlock. 

Fr. Cigue ordinaire. Gerjn. Der Schierling. Span. Ceg-uda. 

Plant smooth, deep bluish green, and sometimes glaucous. Roct biennial, fusiform, 
v.iiitish ami fleshy. Stem'I-i (sometimes 6-8) feet high, fistular, branched, some- 
what sulcate, streaked with green and yellow and often spotted with dark purple. Com- 
jnore jieiic/Zeo dilated, nerved with scarious margins. Petois white. Fruit somewhat gib- 
bous. Carpels with the ribs wavy, especiallj' while young — the faces inclining to separate 
between the base and apex when raature. 

Waste places : introduced. Native of Europe. Fl. June -July. Fr. September. 

Obs. This foreigner is partially naturalized in many places, — and 
being a powerful narcotic poison, it ought to be known by every person 
on whose premises it may occur. The plant when bruised emits a dis- 
agreeable odor. It is supposed to be the herb vrith which the ancient 
Greeks put their philosophers and statesmen to death vrben they got 
tired of them. An extract prepared from the plant was formerly used 
for the treatment of scrofala and malignant tumors, but it is now be- 
lieved that the only benefit, if any, derived from it, was that of a palli- 
ative anodyne. 

13. CORIAN'DRUM, Hoffm. Coriaxdee. 

[Greek, Ko7-is, a bug ; the bruised leaves having the odor of a bed-bug.] 
Fruit globose. Carpels cohering, scarcely separating, — each with 5 un- 
dulate depressed prirnarij ribs, of which the lateral ones are placed in 
front of an accessory margin • the 4 secondary ribs more prominent and 



154 



WEEDS AXD USEFUL PLAXTS. 




Fig. 108. A branch of tlie Poison Hemlock [Conium maculatum]. 109. An umbcllet 
in fruit. 110. An enlarged fruit. 111. A section of the fruit, without oil-tubes, the seed 
curved in at the marsins. 

0* 



GIXSEING FA3IILY. 



155 



keeled. Channels vs-ithout oil-iubes. Seed cur^-ed in at top and bottom 
Involucre l-leayed or 0. Invohicels dimidiate, about 3-Ieaved. Flowers 
white, or tinged red before expanding. 

1. C. sati'yum, L. Leaves bipinnately dissected, — segments of the lower 

ones broad-cuneate, incised-dentate, — of the upper ones narrow and 

linear ; carpels hemispherical. 

CuLTiYATED CoEiAXDEUM. Coriander. 

F/-. Coriandre. Germ. Der. Koriander. Span. Cilantro. 

Plant smooth. Eoot annual (sometimes biennial, DC). Stem 1-2 feet high, slender, 
striate, somewhat branched at summit. Uintels S-o-raj-ed. UmbelMs of numerous short 
unequal rays. Carpels very concave on the face, cohermg by their margins so as to form 
apparently" a simple globose fruit with 2 oil-tubes in a loose membrane, which covers the 
inner face of the seed. 

Gardens : cultivated. Xative of Tartary and the East. Fl. June -July. Fr. August- 
September. 

0^5. Occasionally cultivated for its aromatic /ru/Y. The odor of the 
fresh herb is very offensive, notwithstanding which the Tartars are said 
to prepare a favorite soup from it. 

OrdeeXXXIY. ARALIA'CE^. (Ginseng Family.) 

Perennial herbs, shruls or trees, with alternate, mostly compound leaves, destitute of 
stipules, and mostly umbellate fioicers — the umbels often paniculate. Calyx adherent to the 
ovary,— the limb usually very small, toothed or entire. Petals 5, valvate in sestivation. 
Stamens as many as the petals and alternate with them. Orarj/ 3 -several united carpels, 
with a solitary suspended ovule in each cell ; slyl^ as many as the cells — sometimes 
united. Fruit baccate or drupaceous, — sometimes nearly dry, but the carpels not sepa- 
rating. 

A small Order, with much the same characters as Umbelliferse, but with usually more 
than 2 styles, and the fruit a 3 -several-celled drupe. 

1. ARA'LIA, L. "Wild Saesapaeilla. Ginseng. 

[Xame of unknown derivation ; supposed to be of Canadian origin.] 

Flovjers more or less polygamous. Calyx 5-toothed, teeth very short or 
almost obsolete. Petals 5, spreading. Stamens 5, on short filaments. 
Styles 2-5, mostly distinct and slender, or in the sterile flowers short 
and united. Berry 2 - 5-celled with a single suspended seed in each cell, 
somewhat 5-lobed. Herbs or shrubs, — sometimes prickly. Leaves mostly 
decompound. Flowers white or greenish, in umbels. 
§ 1. Aralia. Flowers monoiciously polyp^amous or perfect, the umbels 
usually in corymbs or panicles ; styles or cells of the (black or dark purple) 
fruit 5 ; stems herbaceous or woody ; ultimate divisions of the leaves pinnate. 

1. A, racemo'sa, L. Stem herbaceous, smooth, divaricately branched ; 
leaves ternately and quinately decompound ; leaflets cordate-ovate, acu- 
minate, doubly serrate ; racemes axillary, compound, paniculately urn- 
bellulate ; involucels small. 

Racemose Aealia. Spikenard. 

RocA thick, aromatic. SleraZ-b feet high, with spreading and somewhat dichotomous 
branches. Leaflets 3-Q or 8 inches long, slightly hairy, mostly petiolulate. Flowers ia 



156 



WEEDS AJ^D USEFUL PLAXTS. 



largo iimljellulate panicles ; peduncles pubescent. Iiivcluccls of several snort subulate 
leaflets. Calyx with 5 small acute teeth. Pdals greenish white, ^tijles united below • 
stigmas diverging or recurved. Berries small, not torosc, dark purple vrhen mature. 

Rich woodlands : Canada to Georgia ; and in gardens, cultivated. Fl. July. Fi: Sep- 
tember. 

Obs. This plant is native in our rich woodlands ; but has been long 
introduced into gardens, as a jDopular medicine. The root, and berries, 
infused in alcohol, made a favorite tincture, in times past, for those 
who indulged in the perilous habit of taking such stomachics. 

2. A. spino'sa, L- Shrub or low tree ; stem and petioles prickly ; 
leaves bipinnately compound ; umbels in a very large much-branched 
panicle. 

Peicklt Aealia. Angelica Tree. Hercules' Club. 

stem unbranched, prickly below, 10-20 and even 60 feet high. Leaves crowded at the 
summit of the stem, 2-4 feet long ; leaflels ovate, acuminate, serrate, somewhat glaucous 
below. Flowers white. 

Pennsylvania, South and West. June -August. 

Obs. This striking species is sometimes seen in cultivation ; at the 
North it is a low tree, but in the Southern States it sometimes attains 
the height of 40 or even 60 feet, its unbranched stems bearing the 
crowded leaves at their summits, having a palm-like appearance. The 
bark, root, and berries, have been used in medicine ; they are aromatic 
and stimulant like those of the preceding species. ^ 

3. A, nudicau'lis, L. Stem very short, scarcely rising above ground ; 
bearing a single long-stalked leaf, and a shorter naked scape, with 2-7 
umbels. 

Naked-stem Aealia. Sarsaparilla. False Sarsaparilla. 

Boot creeping, thickish and long, somewhat aromatic but mawkish. Stem scarcely 
more than the crown of the root. Leaf on an erect petiole 6-12 inches long. .3-parted at 
summit ; each division 2-5 inches in length, and bearing 5 odd-pinnate subsessile leaflets. 
Scape 4-8 inches high, divided at summit into 2-7 smoothish p&Juncles, about 2 inches 
long, each bearing a naked, many-flowered, globose umbel, an inch or an inch and a hall 
in diameter. Berries torulose, purplish black when mature. 

Obs. The root of this is sometimes used as a substitute for the Sarsa- 
parilla of the shops, (a species of Smilax.) I believe both the original 
and the substitute to be rather innocent medicines, — provided tbe^ dis- 
ease be not serious ! 

^ 2. GiNSEXG. Flowers diceciously polygamous ; styles and cells of the 
(red or reddish) fruit 2 - 3 ; stem herbaceous, low, simple, bearing at its 
summit a whorl of 3 palmately 3 - 1 foliolate leaves (or perhaps rather a 
single sessile tio ice-compound leaf,) and a single umbel on a slender naked 
peduncle. 

4. A. quinqusfo'lia, Gray. Koot fusiform, often branched ; leaflets 
mostly in fives, obovate, acuminate, unequally serrate, petiolulate ; pe- 
duncle of the umbel rather shorter than the common petioles ; styles 2 
fruit succulent, 2-celled, 2-seeded. 

Five-lea VED Panax. Ginseng. 



COKXEL FAillLT. 



157 



Root perennial, 3-6 inches long, and about half an inch in diameter, often forked 
iDwawards, ^yhitish, transversely rugose. Stem 9-18 inches high, herbaceous, angular, 
smooth, with a verticil of 3 (rarely 4) petiolato compound leaves at summit, and a simple 
erect pedunculate umbel in the centre. Common petiole 3-4 inches long. jLfiq/?efc un- 
equal, — the 3 principal ones 3-5 inches long, the lateral ones much smaller. Umbel 
many -flowered, — the central flowers often abortive. Petals yellowish green. Ovary 
compressed, cordate-ovate, or gibbous at base on each side. Fruit a fleshy drupaceous 
reniform berry, crowned with the persistent calyx-teeth and styles, smooth, bright 
crimson when mature. 

Rich woodlands •. Northern and Western States. Fl. July, jF^-. September. 

Obs. The root oi' this plant is slightly stimulant, and rather pleasantly 
aromatic. It has long been, and continues to be, an article of some im- 
portance in our commerce with China ; and although it has but little to 
do with Agriculture, it is presumed that a brief description of a native 
plant, so abundantly produced in our western forests— and so highly 
prized in the " Celestial Empire " — will not be unacceptable. 

2. HB'DEEA, L. Ivy. 

[Xame supposed to be from the Celtic word for cord.] 

Ca/?/x of 5 teeth. Pcto/.s 5, broadest at base. Stamens 5-10. Style 
simple, or 5-10, more or less combined. Berry with 3-10 seeds, 
crowned by the calyx. Evergreen shrub adhering to objects by means 
of numerous rootlets. 

1. H. He'lix, L. Leaves thick, angular-heart-s'naped, 3-5-lobed, 
those of the flowering shoots ovate and pointed ; umbels erect. 
English Ivy. Irish Ivy. 

stem long and tortuous, climbing walls, &c., to a great height, and adhering firmly. 
Leaves dark shining green, veined with white. Floioers in spherical heads or umbels, 
yellowish green. Berries obscurely 4-angled, about the size of peas, black. 

Native of Europe. Cultivated, 

Obs. This beautiful vine thrives well, when planted in a northern ex- 
posure, even at the south. The so-called Irish Ivy is a broader leaved 
form. 

Order XXXY. CORXA'CE^. (Cornel Family.) 

Chiefly small trees or shrubs, with mostly opposite entire leaves destitute of stipules, and 
flowers in cymes, sometimes clustered into heads and surrounded by a large petaloid in- 
volucre. Calyx adherent to the 2-celled ovtiry, — the limb 4-toothed. Petals 4, valvate in 
sestivation. Stamens as many as the petals, and alternate with them. Styles united into 1, 
Fruit a 2-celled drupe, crowned with the persistent calyx-teeth. Seeds solitary, pendu- 
lous : embryo nearly the length of the fleshy albumen. 

1. COR'NUS, Tournef. Dogwood. 

[Latin, Cornu, a horn ; from the horny toughness of the wood.] 

Calyx 4-toothed, — the teeth minute. Petals oblong, spreading. Stcf 
mens longer than the corolla. Style sub-clavate ; stigma obtuse or cap- 
itate. Drupe oval or subglobose, with a 2 - 3-celled nut. 

* Flowers capitate, with a Cleaved involucre. 



I5S 



WEEDS AXD USEFUL PLA^sTS. 




112 lis 

1. C. flo'rida, L. Arborescent ; leaves ovate-oblong, acuminate ; in- 
volucre large, — the petaloid leaves ob cordate or with a callous notch at 
apex ; drupes oval. 

Flovteeing Coenus. Dogwood. Common Dogwood. 

Stemlb-20 (sometimes 30-40) feet higli, and 3-4 to 6-8 iuclies in diameter, much 
bi-anched, — tlie young branches opposite or often verticillate in fours. Leaves 3-5 inches 
long, pilose with short appressed hairs, glaucous beneath. Flowers in terminal capitate 
clusters ; involucre about 3 inches in diameter, — the leaves in opposite pairs, white or 
Eometimes tinged with purple. Corolla greenish yellow. Drupe bright red when 
mature. 

Woodlands : Canada to Louisiana. Fl. May. Fr. October. 

Ohs. The wood of this small tree is very close-grained and firm, and 
is valuable for many purposes in mechanics. Cabinet-makers some- 
times employ it in the manufacture of small articles of furniture,— in 
which my friend Dr. Elwyn assures me it is very beautiful. The wood- 
man selects it as the best material for wooden wedges. The young, 
straight stems make good hoops for the cooper ; a.nd the slender verti-. 



■^iG. 112. Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida), the head of minute flowers, surrounded 
I a conspicuous involucre. 113. A separate flower, enlarged. 



COEXEL FAMILY. 



159 



cillate branches once furnisliecl distaffs for spinsters, — in the " good old 
times when that description of females had a practical existence in the 
community. The hark is an excellent tonic, — almost rivalling the Pe- 
ruvian in elEcacy. A century since, according to Kalm, there was so 
much faith in the virtues of the Dogwood, that " when the cattle fall 
down in the spring, for want of strength, the people tie a branch of this 
tree on their neck, thinking it will help thiAU ! " Altogether, and with- 
out any joke — it is a valuable as well as ornamental little tree, — worthy 
of a place in lawns and yards. Observing farmers have remarked that 
the proper time to plant Indian corn is when the involucres of the Dog- 
wood are first developed. There are several other species, with flowers 
in large flat cymes, common in thickets. They all possess more or less 
beauty, and will be foujid described in the systematic works. 

2. NYS'SA, L. Tupelo. 

[The name of a Water Xympli ; applied to this genus.] 

Flowers diceciously polygamous, clustered. Stamixate Flower with a 
small 5-parted calyx and 5 -12, oftener 10 stamens inserted around a 
disk in the bottom of the calyx. Pistillate Flower with a^ calyx 
having a short repand truncate or minutely 5-toothed limb. Petals 
very small and fleshy, deciduous or often wanting. Stamens 5-10, 
with perfect or imperfect anthers. Style elongated, revolute, stigmatic 
down one side. Ovary 1-celled. Drupe ovoid or oblong, with a bony 
and grooved or striate 1-celled and 1-seeded stone. Trees with small 
greenish flowers, the staminate ones in a simple or compound dense 
cluster of fascicles, the pistillate ones much larger, and either solitary 
or in clusters of 2 - 8 ; appearing with the leaves. 
1. N. multiflo'ra, IVang. Leaves oval and obovate, acute at each 
end, often acuminate, entire ; fertile peduncles, mostly 3-flowered. 
Many-flowered Nyssa. Sour Gum. Black Gum. Pepperidge. Tupelo. 

stem 30-60 or 70 feet high, and 1-2 feet in diameter ; branches numerous, horizon- 
tally spreading and often a little drooping. Leaves 2-4 inches long, dark green and shin- 
ing above, paler and pubescent beneath ; petioles half an inch to an inch long, often mar- 
gined, conspicuously villous-ciliate. Staminate floivers pedicellate, 2-5 or 6 in a loos3 
cluster, on a slender common peduncle aboutan'inch long. Fertile Jiower.< sessile, mostly 
3 in a dense involucrate cluster (sometimes 2, or only 1), on a clavate common peduncle, 
which at first is about half an inch — flnallj^ an inch to an inch and a half — in length. 
Drupe elliptic, near half an inch long, bluish-black when mature. 

Moist woodlands and low grounds : throughout the United States. Fl. May -June. Fr. 
September. 

Obs. The woody fibres of this tree are remarkably interlocked, so as 
to render it very diflScult to split ; on which account it is much used for 
making naves, or hubs, for carriage wheels, — and also hatters' blocks. 
The younger trees, when growing solitary, have much symmetry — af- 
fording a fine shade ; and in autumn the leaves add greatly to the pic- 
turesque appearance of the country, by changing to a bright crimson 
color. 



160 



WEEDS AND USEFUL PLANT?-, 



DIVISION II. 

MONOPET'ALOUS EX'OGEXS. 

Floral Envelopes, consistiDg of both calyx and corolla — the petals 
more or less united. 

Oeder XXXYI. CAPKIFOLIA'CE^. (Honeysuckle Family.) 

Mostly shrubs, often twining, rarely herbs, with opposite leaves without stipules. Cahjx ad- 
herent to the ovary. Corolla tubular or rotate, regular or irregular. Siamens as many as 
the lobes of the corolla, and alternate with them — or rarely 1 fewer — inserted into the 
tube. Omry 2 - 5-celled ; style \owg and filiform with a capitate stigma — or 3-5 sessile 
stigmas. Fruit baccate, or sometimes dry, often 1-celled by abortion. Embryo in the 
axis of fleshy albumen. 

^ 1. Corolla tubular, often irregularly lobed, sometimes 2-lippcd. 
Style long and slender ; stigma capitate. 

Corolla tubular, mostly irregularlj'- 5-lobed. Stamens as many 

as the lobes of the corolla. Berry several-seeded. 1. Loxicera. 

Corolla bell-shaped, regular. Berry 2-seeded. 2. SYMPnoRiCARPUS. 

Corolla tubular, gibbous at base. Fruit with 3-5 bony seeds. 3. Triosteum. 
§ 2. Corolla wheel-shaped, regularly and deeplj' 6-lobed. Stigmas 
mostly 3, sessile. Inflorescence cymose or thyrsoid. 
Leaves pinnate. Berry 3-seeded. 4. Sambucus. 

Leaves simple. Fruit a drupe with 1 flat stone. 5. Viburnum. 



1. LONICE'KA, L. Honeysuckle. 

[Dedicated to the memory of Adam Lonicer, an old German Botanist.] 

Calyx-teeth very short. Corolla tubular or funnel-form, often gibbous at 
base, irregularly or nearly regularly 5-lobed. Ovary 2 - 3-celled. Berry 
several-seeded. Twining or upright shrubs ; upper leaves often connate ; 
Jiowers axillary. 

1. L. gra'ta, -A^t. Leaves sub-perennial, obovate, 2-3 upper pairs 
connate, the lower ones sub-petiolate ; corolla not gibbous at base, tube 
long. 

Agreeable Lonicera. Wild Honeysuckle. American Woodbine. 

stem 10-20 feet long, branching, the young branches often pilose. Leaves 1-3 inches 
long, rather obtuse and often slightly emarginate, glaucous and reticulately veined be- 
neath. Floivers in verticils of about 6, in the axils of the upper connate leaves ; corolla 
externally red or purphsh, the limb at first nearly v/hite, soon becoming tawny yellow,— 
the tube an inch or more in length, tapering to the base, smooth within. Stamens exserted, 
about equalling the style. Berries orange red at maturity, crowned with the persistent 
calyx teeth. 

New York, Pennsylvania, and westward. Often cultivated. May. 

Obs. This and other species of Honeysuckle are favorite plants for - 
decorating arbors and porticoes. Most of them are delightfully fragrant 
when in flower, and are much frequented by the exquisitely beautiful 
little humming-bird. 

Among those most commonly cultivated are the Italian Honeysuckle, 
(L. Caprifo'lium,) with glaucous leaves, fragrant blush-colored flowers 
and yellow berries ; the Woodbine (L. Pericly'menum) wuth the leaves 



HOXETSUCKLE FAMILY. 



181 



all separate ; the Trumpet Honeysuckle, (L. semper'virens,) a native 
scentless species with a long tubular, red or yellow corolla with the 
margin divided into 5 short, nearly equal lobes. 

2. STMPHOEICAR'PUS, Bill. Snowberey. 

[Greek, Symphoreo, to bear together, and Karpos, fruit ; ttie berries growing in dense 

clusters.] 

Calyx-teeth short, persistent on the fruit. Carolla bell-shaped regularly 
5-lobed with as many stamens inserted into its throat. Ovary 4-celled. 
Berry 2-s3eded. Low shrubs with short petioled leaves. Flowers in 
short close clusters. The upper flowers often developing after the lower 
ones of the cluster have matured their fruit. 

1. S. racemo'sus, Mx. Spikes terminal, loose, interrupted, often 
somewhat leafy ; corolla bearded within ; berries white. 
Snow-Berry. 

Shrill) 2-4 feet high, with numerous slender branches clothed with loose bark. Leaves 

1- 2 inches long, more or less broadly ovate, often undulate on the margin, those of the 
young shoots sometimes obtusely toothed ; under surface softly pubescent, upper smooth- 
ish. Flowers about >^ of an inch long, rose color. Berries brilliant white. 

Rocky banks : North and West. June -September. 

Ohs. This is often seen in cultivation, its bright white berries, which 
remain on the bush until winter, making it a conspicuous object among 
the shrubbery. * 

3. TRIOS 'TEUM, L. Fever- wort. 

[Greek, Treis^ three, and Osteon, a bone ; from its three bony seeds or nuts. 

Calyx'tuhe ovoid ; segments lance-linear, foliaceous, persistent. Corolla 
gibbous at base, nearly equally 5-lobed. Berry drupaceous, rather dry, 
3-ceUed, with 3 bony 1-seeded nuts. Perennial hairy hei os ; leaves sub- 
connate, tapering at base ; flowers axillary, sessile, bracteate. 

1. T. perfolia'tum, L. Softly hairy ; leaves spatulate-ovate, ab- 
ruptly narrowed at base ; axils 1 - 3-flowered ; flowers dark, brownish- 
purple. 

Perfoliate Triosteum. Fever-wort. Horse Gentian, &c. 

stem 2-4 feet high, simple, somewhat viscid while young. Leaves 4-6 inches long, and 

2- 4 inches wide, often narrowed almost to a petiole at base, but always connate, the 
margin ciliate pubescent. Corolla about half an inch long, viscid-pubescent, ^errjr oval^ 
orange color when mature. 

Rocky woods. June. 

Obs. The root of this plant was formerly somewhat noted as an Indian 
medicine ; but is now neglected. John Bartram (in the Appendix to 
Short's Medicina Britannica) says it is " called in our Northern Colo- 
nies Dr. Tinker's Weed ; in Pennsylvania, Gentian ; and to the south- 
ward, Fever Root." 



162 



WEEDS AND USEFUL PLAXTS. 



4. SAMBU'CUS, Tournef. Eldek. 

[Greek, Sanibuke, a musical instrument ; said to have been made of this shrub.] 

Calyx with the segmects minute. Corolla urn-shaped, with a broadly 
spreading 5-cleft limb. Fruit sub-globose, baccate ; nucules 3, (rarely 5,) 
crustaceous, rugulose, each containing a suspended seed. Shrubs or 
perennial herbs. Leaves odd-pinnately dissected. Tafiorescence cymose 
or thyrsoid. 

1, S. Canadeil'sis, I^- Stem suffruticose ; leaflets oblong-oval, acumi- 
nate, serrate ; flowers in 5-parted spreading cymes. 
Canadian Sambucus. Elderbush. Common Elder. 

stem 5 -S or 10 feet higb, finally shrubby, filled with a large pith, branching, nodose — 
the young branches tumid at the nodes. Leaflets usually in 3 pair's with a terminal odd 
one, 2-4 inches long, petiolulate. Cy??ies broad, terminating young branches, on pedun- 
cles 4-6 inches long. Corolla wliite. .Berries numerous, smaU. juicy, dark purple or 
nearly black when mature. 

Thickets and fence rows : througliout tlie United States. Fl. June. Fr. August. 

Ohs. This is a rather troublesome plant, on our farms, — the long roots 
being very tenacious of life, and inclined to spread extensively along 
fence-rows and hedges. If neglected, it soon gives the farm "a very 
slovenly appearance. 

This species is considered by some botanists as a mere variety of the 
European S. nigra, which it certainly closely resembles. Like that spe- 
cies, it is considerably employed in domestic medicine. An infusion of 
its flowers, Elderblow-tea, is a harmless and efficient diaphoretic, and 
the juice of the berries makes a tolerable wine. The bark is said to act 
as a purgative and emetic. 

5. YIBUK'XUM, L. Yibuexoi. 

[A classical Latin name ; etymology obscure.] 

Calyx 5-toothed. Corolla spreading, deeply 5-lobed. Fruit a 1-celled 
1-seeded drupe, with a scanty pulp and a crustaceous more or less flatten- 
ed nut. Shrubs: leaves simple, petiolate ; petioles sometimes bearing lit- 
tle appendage-like stipules. Flowers usually white, in flat compound 
mostly terminal cymes. 

^ Flowers all alike and perfect. 

1. V. Lenta'gO, L- Leaves lance-ovate, acuminate, sharply-serrate; 
petioles with wavy margins : cymes sessile, somewhat corymljose, termi- 
nal ; drupes oval,"^slightly compressed. 
Sweet Viburnum. Sheep-berry. 

A tree 15 - 20 feet high. Petioles % an incli to an mch long, the undulate margin dotted 
with brown scales wiien young. Leaves 2-4 Laches long. Drupes often half an inch long, 
ripe in October, changing" from a rich scarlet to a bluish black with a glaucous bloom— 
sdible especially after having been frozen. 

Canada to Georgia. May -June. 



MADDER FAMILY. 



163 



Obs. There are several other species belongiuo- to this section ; this is 
the most elegant of them, and is really worthy of culture as an ornamen- 
tal tree, it behig beautifu], yrhether clothed with its rich green foliage 
and profusion of flowers in spring, or bearing its plentiful clusters of fruit 
and its many-hued leaves in autumn. 

Marginal flowers of the cymes sterile, and icith corollas many times 
larger than the others, forming a kind of ray. 

2. V. O'pulus, L. Nearly smooth ; leaves strongly 3-lobed, broadly 
wedge-shaped or truncate at the base, the lobes toothed ; petioles bear- 
ing stalked glands at the base ; cymes peduncled ; fruit ovoid, red. 
Cranberry-tree. Bush, or High-cranberry. 

5ftrw& 3-10 feet high with spreading branches. Zeam 3-5 inches in diameter with 3 
very large divergent lobes and large unequal obtuse teeth. Cymes 3 -4 inches in diameter, 
the outer and imperfect florets, more or less numerous, raised on longer stalks, destitute 
of stamens and pistils, the corolla nearly an inch in diameter, of 5 unequal rounded lobes. 
Drupes }4 uich long, intensely acid. 

Pennsylvania, northward. FL June. Fr. September. 

Obs. This species is found in the swamps in the northernmost States, 
and extends to the Arctic circle. The acid fruit is sometimes used as a 
substitute for cranberries, whence its popular name. It is better known 
in its cultivated state as the Guelder Rose or •• Snow-ball," which is a 
variety with all the flowers sterile and bearing large corollas. The Snow- 
ball is one of the most generally cultivated shrubs, and is beautifully de- 
scribed by the poet, Cowper, as throwing up its — 

" Silver globes, hght as the foamy surf. 
That the wind severs from the broken wave.-' * 

Order XXXYU. RUBIA'CEJS. (Madder Family ) 

Herbs, sTirubs or ii-ees with opposite or verticillate, entire leaves, connected by interposed 
stipules, or whorled without apparent stipules. Flmcers regular. Calyx-tulye' adherent to 
the ovciry, or sometimes free, — the limb 3-5-cleft or toothed — occasionally obsolete. 
Corolla inserted on the summit of the calyx-tube, — the loles as many as those of the 
calyx. Sto.Tu -'-^ t~ r . ^nyas the lobes of the corolla, and alternate with them. Ovary 
mostly 2-c:-; ; stly 2, more or less united; rfi^?nas mostly 2, distinct or con- 
crete. Frh : baccate, drupaceous, capsular, or separable into indehiscent car- 
pels. Seeds - . . , : .v, or numerous in each ceU : embryo in the axis, or at the extremity, 
of copious fleshy or horny albumen. 

This Order — comprising various Tribes, and nearly 250 Genera — contains many plants 
of great value — ^though but few of them immediately concern the Xorth American farmer. 
Among the most important may be mentioned the Coffee plant (Coflfea Arabica, L.. which 
may yet, possibly, be advantageously cultivated in Florida, and some other places on our 
southern borders) — ^the Peruvian Bark (from various species of Cinchona) — and the 
Ipecacuanha (Cephaehs Ipecacuanha, Rich.) The well-known beautiful and fragrant Cape 
Jessamine (Gardenia fiorida) is also referred to this large Natural Family. 

1. Madder Sub-order. Ovanj entirely coherent with the calyx-tube. 
Leaves whorled. 

1. RU'BIA, Tournef. Madder. 

[Latin, Ruber, red ; the color produced by its roots.] 

Calyx-tube ovoid-globose, — the Umh 4-tGothed or obsolete. Coixlla sab- 



164 



WEEDS AXD USEFUL PLANTS. 



rotate, 4 - 5-parted. Stamem short Styles 2, united at base. Frmt 
didymous, subglobase, baccate, smootji. Herbaceous or suffruticose^ 
Stems 4-aDgled, diffoselv branching. 




I.E. Tixcto'eibi, L, Stem herbaceous, flaccid, aculeate on the angles ; 
leaves mostly in apparent verticils of six, lanceolate, snb-petiolate ; pe- 
duncles axiUary, trichotomons : lobes of the corolla with a callous acu- 
mination, but not cuspidate. 
Dtees' Eubia. Madder. Dyers' Madder. 
Fi: La Garance. Germ. Die Faerber-Eoethe. Span. Eubia. 

Root perennial, large, reddisli 'broTm. Stems procnm'bent, 3-4 feet long, nmcli brancied, 
pubescent at the joints ; angles prominent, sometimes more than 4, aculeate witli short 
retrorsely curved prickles. Leaves and stipides similar, 1-2 inches long — the midrfb and 
margins retrorsely aculeate— ^sicer-fceari??^ branches axiilary, opposite. CoroUa hrownish 
yellow, often 5-lohed. 

Gardens and lots : cultivated. Jvatixe of the East. Fl. July. Fr. Septemoer. 



Fig. 114. The Madder Plant (Eubia tinctormn) reduced. 



TALZEIA^s^ rAMILY. 



165 



06-5. The root of the madder abounds in coloring matter, and is per- 
haps, the most valnable of all dyeing materials. Combined with proper 
mordants it produces a great yarietv of colors and shades, varying from 
the most delicate pink to the darkest brown, and even black. The great 
supply is from Holland, though it is cultivated to some extent in this 
country, especially in Ohio and Tennessee. Several species of Galium, 
known as - Cleavers," Goose-grass or ••' Bedstraw," are botanically 
allied to madder — but they are not sufficiently important even as weeds 
to require notice. 

2. LoGAXiA St:b-oedee. Leaves opposite, with stipules between them. 
Ovary free from the calyx. 
2. SPIGE LIA, L. Caeolina Pink. 

[Named for Prcf. Spigdius, a Botanist of the serenteentli century.] 

Calyx 5-parted, persistent ; the lobes slender. CcroIIa tubular-funnel- 
form, 5-lobed at the summit, valvate in the bud. Stamens 5 ; anthers 
linear. Style slender, hairy above, jointed near the middle. Fed short, 
twin, laterally flattened, separating at maturity from the base into two 
carpels, which open loculicidally, few-seeded. Herbs with the opposite 
leaves united by means of the stipules, and the flowers spiked in one- 
sided cymes. 

1. S. Marilan'dica, L. Stem upright, simple ; leaves sessile, ovate- 
lanceolate, acute ; spike 3 - 8-flowered ; tube of the corolla four times 
the length of the calyx, the lobes lanceolate ; anthers and style exserted. 
^L\RYLA^-D Spigelia. Carolina or Indian Pink. Pink-root. TTorm- 
grass. 

Root consisting of a great number of fibres. Stems annual, numerous, somewhat 4- 
angled, purplish, 6-15 inches high. Leaves 2-3 inches long and about half as vride at 
base, pubescent on the margins and nerves. Corolla an inch and a half long, crimson 
outside, yellow within. 

Pennsylvania to Wisconsin and southward. June - July. 

Obs. A showy and beautiful plant, sometimes cultivated in the flower 
garden, but is introduced here on account of its commercial value. The 
root is extensively used as an anthelmintic or worm-destroying medicine, 
and large quantities are collected for market in the southern and west- 
ern states. It should l^e collected in autumn, and carefally dried before 
packing. An infusion of the root, commonly known as "Worm Tea-," 
is one of the most popular medicines of its class. * 

Order XXXYIQ. YALERIAXA'CEJE. (Yaleriax Family.) 

Herbs with opposite leaves without stipules. Calyz-tube coherent with the ovary ; corolla 
tubular, mostly .5-Iobed ; stamens fevfev than the corolla lobes (usually 2-3) inserted on 
the tube ; stigvias 1 - 3 ; fruit dry, indehiscent, 1-celled or with 2 empty cells and the other 
1-seeded ; seM suspended, without albumen. 

The Valerian of xhe shops is produced by a species of the genus Valeriana, and the 
roote of one of our native species are eaten by the Indians of the far west. The only plant 
of interest to the agriculturist is the one described on the two following pages. 



166 



WEEDS AXD USEFUL PLANTS. 




1. FE'DIA; L. CoEx-sAL_u). 

[Origin of the name obscure.] 



Calyx-ieetJi 3-5 or obsolete. Fruit 3-celled, — two of the cells empty, 
the other one 1-seeded, cellular-gibbous on the back. Leaves spatulate- 
obloDg ; fiowers in dense cymules. 

1. F. oUto'ria, Vahl. Fruit compressed, oblique, — the fertile cell with a 
corky mass at the back, the sterile ones often confluent ; flowers pale 
blue. 

foT-HERD Fedia. Lamb's Lettuce. Corn Salad. 



Fig. 115. The Carolina Pink (Spigelia Marilandica) . 



TEASEL FAMILY. 167 



Annual. ^f<em 4 -12 inches high, dichotomously branching. Leaves half an inch to 2 
Inches long, sessile, subdentate, somewhat ciliate on the margin. Fruit finally broader 
than long. 

Meadow banks and fields. Ma 3-, 

Obs. This is found sparingly, as yet, in this country, but is a com- 
mon weed in Europe. It is cultivated for a spring salad, and is brought 
to the iS'ew York markets in considerable quantities. In order to ob- 
tain it early in the season, it should be sowed in the preceding autumn. 

Order XXXIX. DIPSA'CE^E. (Teasel Family.) 

Herbs with opposite sessile leaves and no stipules. Flowers aggregated, mostly in dense invo- 
lucrate heads. Calyx-tube wholly (or sometimes at summit «nly) adherent to the ovary, — 
the limb cup-shaped and entire, or toothed — or forming a bristly or plumose pajypus. 
CoroZZa tubular, the Zim6 4- 5-lobed, sometimes ringent or irregular. Stamens mostly 4, 
distinct. Ovary 1-celled, with a single suspended ovule ; style filiform. Fruit membrana. 
ceons or akenc-like, indehiscent, crowned with the limb of the calyx, 1-colled, 1-seeded. 
Embryo nearly the length of the fleshy albumen. 

The genus which is the type of this small Order, is the onlj' one entitled to notice in this 
work, 

1. DIP'SACUS, Touriwf. Teasel. 

[Greek, Dipsao, to thirst ; the stem-leaves holding water at their junction.] 

Involucre many-leaved, longer than the acuminate subfoliaceous chaff of 
the receptacle. Involucd 4-sided, 8-furrowcd, closely investing the 
ovary and fruit. Calyx-tube adherent to the ovary, — the limb minute, 
cup-shaped or discoid, entire. Corolla with four erect lobes. Stout 
biennials. Stems angular and prickly. Leaves opposite and often 
connate at base. Heads large, oblong, — the florets commencing to ex- 
pand in a ring about the middle of the head, and gradually extending 
the process towards base and apex ! 

1. D. sylves'tris, Mill. Leaves lanceolate-oblong, crenate-dentate and 
serrate, prickly on the midrib ; involucre curved upwards, longer than 
the head ; chaff at the receptacle straight and flexible. 

Wild Dipsacus. Teasel. Wild Teasel. 

i?oo« biennial. Stem Z -5 or 6 feet high, branched. Radical leaves 8-12 inches long ; 
sZ€ni Zeaues sessile, subconnatc — those of the branches lanceolate and often nearly entire. 
Leaflets of the involucre lance-linear, pungent at apex, unequal in length. Heads ot flowers 
ovoid-oblong ; corolla pale purple. Bracts or chaff of the receptacle oblong-cuneate, keeled, 
abruptly tapering into a straight flexible awn-hke acumination, longer than the flowers — 
those at the top of the head longest. 

Borders of fields, roadsides, &c. Northern and Middle States: introduced. Native of 
Europe. Fl. July. Fr. September. 

Obs. This coarse plant is completely naturalized in some localities, — ■ 
and is not only worthless, but threatens to become something of a nuis- 
ance to the farms, if not attended to. A little timely care, hov^ever, 
would soon subdue it. 

2. D. Fullo'num, Mill. Leaves obovate and oblong-lanceolate, smooth- 
ish, serrate, — the upper ones entire ; involucre spreading or reflexed, 
Bhorter than the head ; chaff of the receptacle recurved, rigid. 



308 WEEDS AXD USEFUL PLAXTS. 

Fullers' Dtpsacus. Fullers' Teasel. 

Fr. Ghardon a Foulon. Germ. Aeclite Kartendistel . Span. Car- 
dencha. 

2Eoo4 biennial. .S'ifem 4- 5 feet bigli, branched. HadicoX leaves obovate, narrowed to a 
petiole at base ; stem leaves connate-perfoliate. Leaflets of the involucre lanceolate, mucro- 
nate, rigid. Heads of flowers cj'lindric or elliptical ; corolla pale purple. Bracts or chafl 
of the receptacle cuneate-oblong, keeled, bristly-ciliate on the margin, terminating in a 
rigid subulate recurved acumination. 

Lots : cultivated. Native of Europe. Fl. J n\y. J'r. September. 

Obs. This species is cultivated by some cloth manufacturers, for the 
sake of the heads, — the rigid recurved points of the chaffy bracts, on 
the mature heads, serving as a kind of card, to raise the nap on woollen 
cloth. 

Oeder XL. COMI OS'IT^. (Composite Family.) 

Mostly Tierlis, with alternate or opposite, often lobed or dissected (never truly compound) 
leaves without stipules, and flowers in close heads upon a common receptacle, and embraced 
by leaflets or scales, which form a general involucre. Cahjx-tube closely adherent to the 
ovary ; its hmb or border (called pappus) consisting of hairs, bristles, or scales ; some- 
times wanting. Corolla either tuhular and 5- (rarely 3-4-) lobed, or strap-shaped (ligu- 
late) and mostly 5-toothed. Staviens 5 (rarely 4), inserted on the corolla ; anthers united 
forming a tube which surrounds the 2-cleft style. Fi'uU an akene containing a single erect 
seed, which is destitute of albumen. 

This immense Order contains about one-tenth of the known species of flowering plants. 
The flowers are either polygamous, monoecious or dioecious. Aside from the terms noticed 
above, used in describing plants of this family, it may be well to mention that the strap- 
shaped corollas are termed rays, and those heads possessing them are termed radiate. 
The tubular flowers compose the disk; a head composed entirely of these is said to be 
discoid. The flowers of either kind are termed /Zo?-eis. The leaves or bracts forming to- 
gether the involucre are termed scales, whatever their texture. The scales which often 
grow upon the receptacle, among the flowers, are called chaff (palece), if the receptacle is 
without these it is naked. 

In systematic works, the distinctions into tribes are made upon minute characters of the 
style, too difiicult for those who have not had some experience in examining minute 
objects ; in order to facilitate the determination of the genera, an artificial key, modified 
from that in Gray's Manual, is appended. In this the systematic arrangement is broken 
up, but the genera as described are placed in their proper order. The * and ** prefixed 
to Erigeron and Senecio refer to sections of those genera. 

Sub-order 1. Tubl-liflor^. 

Corolla of the perfect flowers tubular, regularly 5- (rarely 3 -4-) lobed; strap-shaped 
(hgulate) only in the marginal or ray-flowers, which when present are either pistillate 
only or neutral (with neither stamens nor pistil). 

§ 1. Heads without ray-flowers ; corollas all tubular. 
* Flower s of the head all alike and perfect, 
f Pappus consisting of bristles. 
Pappus double, the outer very short, the inner of longer bristles. 1. Verxoma. 

Pappus simple, the bristles all of the same sort. 
Heads few or many-flovrcred. 

Receptacle (when the flowers are pulled off) bristly hairy 
Alcenes smooth. Pappus of plumose bristles. 

Leaves decurrent. Scales of involucre tipped with a spine. 25. Cirsium. 

Akenes smooth. Pappus plumose. Leaves not decurrent. 
Scales of involucre, thick and fleshy with a lanceolate 
appendage terminated by a spine. 24. Ctxara. 

Akenes wrinlded. Pappus of short and rough bristles. 27. Lappa. 
Receptacle deeply honeycomb-likc. 26. Oxopordon 



COMPOSITE FAMILY. 



169 



Receptacle nakeJ. 

Pappus of siendor but rather stiff bristles. Flowers 

■whitisli or purplisb. Scales of involucre several. 2. EuPATORira 

Pappus of very soft and weak naked bristles. Flowers 

yellow. *22. SEXEao. 

** Flowers of two kinds in the same heads. 
Marginal flowers neutral and sterile, commonly enlarged. 23. Centaurea, 

Marginal flowers pistillate and fertile. 

Receptacle naked or bearing no conspicuous chaff. 

Pappus of capillary bristles. Scales of the involucre imbri- 
cated, dry and scarious. 20. G-VAPH-iiir3i. 
Pappus of capillary bristles. Involucre of but one row of 
scales. 

Heads very small. *o. Erigerox. 

Heads large. Pappus copious, very white. 21 Erechthites. 

Pappus obsolete or none. 

Akenes broad at the top. Pappus a short crown. IS. TAXACErrir. 

Akenes narrow at the top. Pappus none. 19. AiHEinsiA. 

«=** Flowers of two kinds in separate heads ; one pistillate, the other 

staminate. 
Heads moacEcious. 

Fertile involucre small, 1-flowered, poicied and often tubercled. 8. Ambrosia. 
Fertile involucre an oblong prickly bur, 2-celled, 2-seeded. 9. XA>THn:>i. 

§ 2. Kays present ; i. e., the marginal flowers, or some of them, 
with strap-shaped (ligulate) corollas. 

* Pappus of capillary bristles. (Rays all pistillate.) 
Rays occupying several rows. 

Heads solitary upon a scape. 3. Tusstlago. 

Heads more or less corymbed. **5. Erigerox. 

Rays in one marginal row, and 

White, purple or blue, never yeUow. Pappus simple. 4. Aster. 

Yellow, of the same color as the disk. 

Scales of the involucre in one row. Pappus soft and weak. **22. SExeao, 
Scales of the involucre imbricated. Pappus simple. 

Heads small, racemed or clustered. & Soltdago. 

Heads Large,' terminating the branches, 7. Ixcla. 

** Pappus none, or a cup or crown, or 2 - 3 a-wns, teeth or chaffy scales 
corresponding with the angles or edges of the akene, often with inter- 
vening minute bristles or scales. 

J Receptacle naked. 

Akenes terete or angled. Pappus none. Receptacle flattish. 17. LEtrcAXTHEirrs 

ff Receptacle chaffy. 
Rays neutral (rarely pistillate but sterile) ; the disk flowers perfect. 
Receptacle strongly convex or columnar, and 

Chaffy only at the summit ; the chaff deciduous. 

Pappus none. 14. SlARtrrA. 

Chaffy throughout. 

Akenes 4-sided, flat at the top. Pappus none, or a minute 

crown. 10. Rudbeckia. 

Akenes flattened laterally. Pappus of 2 deciduous scales. 11. Heuaxthus 
Akenes flat, wing-margined, bearing 2 persistent awns. 12. AcnxoMERia 
Receptacle flat. 

Akenes flat or 4-sided, with 2 or more downwardly barbed 
persistent awns. 13. Bidexs. 

Rays pistillate and fertile, as well as the disk flowers. 

Akenes flattened and margined. Pappus none. 16. AcmujEA. 

Akenes 4-angled or terete. Receptacle convex or conical. Leaves 
alternate, dissected. 15. Axthehk, 

SUB-OEDER 2. LlGULIFLOE^. 

Corolla ligulate in all the flowers of the head, and all the flowers per- 
fect. Herbs with milky juice and alternate leaves. 
Pappus of numerous small chaffy scales. 

Flowers blue. 28. CiCHORim. 



iro 



WEEDS AND USEFUL PLAINTS. 



Pappus plumose. 



Akenes spindle-shaped. Flowers yellow. 
Akenes long-beaked. Flowers purple. 



29. Leo>todox. 

30. Tragopogon. 



Pappus not plumose, of bright white capillary bristles. 



Akenes terete, long-beaked. Flowers solitary on scapes. 
Akenes flat, long-beaked. Flowers in pauicled heads. 
Akenes flattened, not beaked. Pappus very soft. 



31. Ti\R.4XACUM. 

32. Lactuca. 
S3. SoxcHus. 



1. YEKNO'NIA, Schreh. Ieon-weed. 

[Named in honor of William Vernon, an English Botanist.] 



Heads many-flowered, in corymbose cymes. Involucre imbricate, shorter 
than the flowers, — the inner scales longest. Receptacle naked. Akenes 
clavate, ribbed. Pappus double, — the inner series of numerous bristles — 
the outer mostly short, minute, often dilated and scale-like. Mostly pe- 
rennial herbs, with alternate leaves ; flowers bright purple. 

1. v. JToveboracen'sis, Willd. Leaves lanceolate or oblong, serrulato 
roughish ; heads numerous, in a terminal corymb ; scales of the involu- 
cre ovate, acute or often with a long filiform flexuous point. 
New-Yokk Yernonia. Iron-weed. 

stem 2 or 3-6 or 7 feet high, somewhat branching at summit, finally firm and subligne- 
ous. Leaves 3 - 6 or 8 inches long, subsessile, thickish or subcoriacoous. Akenes scabrous 
with short hairs • pappzis a dirty white, or often purpUsh, scabrous — the outer series con- 
sisting of short chaffy or scale-like bristles. 

Moist meadows and low grounds : throughout the United States. Ft August. Fr. 
September. 

Obs. This plant is quite common in moist low grounds, and along 
fence-rows. Its worthless character and coarse hard stem cause it to be 
regarded as a rather obnoxious weed, in our meadows ; and of course it 
is carefully eradicated by all neat farmers. 



[Named from Eupatoi' Milhridates ; who, it is said, first used the plant.] 

Heads 3 - many-flowered. Involucre oblong, cylindric or campanu- 
late, — the scales imbricated in 2, 3, or more series — or sometimes nearly 
equal in a single series. i?eceptoc/c flat, naked. ylZ:c/7e5 5-augled. Pap- 
pus a single series of very slender bristles, rough or minutely serrulate. 
Perennial herbs, with leaves mostly opposite or verticillate, often resi- 
nous dotted ; flowers white or purplish. 

1. E. perfolia'tum, L. Stem rigid, hirsutely villous, corymbosely 
branched above ; leaves opposite and decussate, connate-perfoliate,„ob- 
iong-lanceolate, crenate-serrate, reticulately veined and rugose, very pu- 
bescent beneath ; heads about 10 or more flowered. 
Perfoliate Eupatokium. Thorough-stem. Boneset. Indian Sage. 

stem 2-4 feet high, the branches whitish and very pubescent. Leaves 4 - 6 or 8 inches 
long, opposite and completely united at base — or sometimes contracted at base and 
scarcely connate (rarely verticillate in threes, and connate), tapering gradually to a 
slender point, sprinkled with resinous particles beneath. Heads of flowers crowded, in 



2. EUPATO'RIUM, Tournef. Tiiorough-wort. 



COMPOSITE FAATILT. 



171 



larg-e corvmbs. Scales of the iaroiucre lance-linear, rather acute. Florets white. A.^ies 
smoothisii. 

Low swampy grounds : throughout the United States. Fl. July -August. Fr. Sept. 

Obs. This species is so common in Tvet meaclo^YS, and low grounds, as 
to be regarded rather as an objectionable weed. But it is chiefly en- 
titled to notice for its medicinal properties, — being either emetic, ca- 
thartic, or tonic — according to the dose, or mode of exhibition. 

There are several other species of this genus, which meet the eye of 
the farmer in his meadows and along the borders of woods and thickets— 
particularly a tall, stout one, with verticiilate leaves and purple flowers, 
(E. purpureiim, L.) ; but they are scarcely of sufficient importance to 
claim a place in this work. 

3. TUSSILA'GO, Tournef. Colts-foot. 

[Xame from the Latin, Tussis, a cough ; for the cure of which the plant is used.] 

Heads many-flowered, those of the ray narrowly ligulate, pistillate, fer- 
tile, in several series, the disk-fiowers few, staminate. Scales of the in- 
volucre oblong obtuse, in nearly a single series. Receptacle flat. Feiiile 
achenia cylindrical oblong. Pappus capillary, copious in the fertile 
flowers. A perennial herb with thick creeping root-stocks ; leaves radical, 
appearing later than the scaly scapes ; fiowers yellow. 

1. r. Far'fara, L. Scapes single-flowered, imbricated with scales, woolly 
when young ; leaves long petioled, cordate, angular-toothed. 
Colts-foot. 

Root-stoclc widely spreading. Scapes about a foot high. Leaves which acquire their full 
size after the lowering season, 3-5 inches in diameter, the margin irregularly lobed and 
angular, smoothish above and white tomentose below. Heads of flowers about }i of an 
inch in diameter. 

Along streams : Xew England and Xew York. Introduced from Europe. March - April. 

Ohs. The Colts-foo* which is sometimes a troublesome weed in the 
cultivated grounds of England, is perfectly estabhshed in the cooler por- 
tions of our country. It is not introduced here on account of any impor- 
tance it possesses with us as a weed, but for its popular, medicinal repu- 
tation. It is one of those harmless plants which have long been con- 
sidered as efficacious domestic remedies, and it is even cultivated in old 
garden?. An infusion of the whole plant is used for coughs and pulmo- 
nary complaints. It is probably about as valuable as any other mucilag- 
inous drink, with some tonic qualities. The leaves have sometimes 
been smoked for asthma. ^ 

4. AS'TER, Tovji-nef. Astee. 

[Greek, Aster, a star ; the radiated heads of flowers resembling stars.] 

Heads many-flowered — the ray-florets in a single series, pistillate, — those 
of the disk tubular and perfect. Scales of the involucre more or less im- 
bricated, usuaUy whitish below and green or foliaceous at apex. Recep* 



1T2 



"WEEDS AXD LSEP^UL PLANTS, 



tacle flat, mostly alveolate, (or pitted.) Akenes usually compressed. 
Pappus simple, of capillary bristles. Heads corymbose, paniculate, or 
racemose ; ra ys purple, white, or blue. 

1. A. ericoi'des, L. Smoothish, much branched, — the simple leafy 
branchlets or peduncles racemose and mostly unilateral on the Tirg-ate 
spreading branches ; leaves rather rigid, — the radical and lower caulinc 
ones oblauceolate or oblong-spatulate, tapering to a margined petiole,— 
the others linear-lanceoiate and linear-subulate, acute at each end ; 
heads small, numerous, solitary on the branchlets ; involucre hemispheri- 
cal or subturbinate, — the scales loosely imbricated, linear-oblong, acute, 
spreading at apex. 

Erica, or Heath-like Aster. 

stem 1 - 2 or 3 feet high, often branched from the base. Radical leav&i 1 - 3 or 4 inches 
long, sparingly serrate, ciliate, tapering to a petiole nearly as long as the leaf; stem-leaves 
1-3 inches long, those on the branchlets smaller, subulate-linea,r. i^a^/s white, or often 
tinged vrith pale purple, — the disk often becoming reddish purple. 

Sterile soils ; old fields, pastures, &c.: throughout the United States. Ft August -Sep- 
tember. Fr. October. 

Ohs. Many species of this genus meet the eye of the farmer, in the 
latter part of summer, in his Tvoodlands, low grounds, borders of thick- 
ets, &c., some of which species are quite ornamental ; but the little 
bushy one here described (which, I believe, has not acquired a common 
name.) is almost the only one which invades our pastures to any material 
extent. In thinnish old fields, it sometimes becomes an abundant — as it 
is always a very worthless — weed. Good culture, and enriching the soil, 
soon cause it to disappear. 

The commonly-cultivated China Aster is placed by most botanists in 
an allied genus, Gallistephus ; in the most prized varieties of which, 
known as German Asters," the rays are not developed, but the disk 
flowers are very large. There are over 30 species of native Aster in the 
Northern States, and many more at the South ; some of these are quite 
showy in cultivation. 

5. ERIG'EROX, L. Flea-baxe. 

[Greek, Er, spring, and Geron, an old man ; the plant being hoary in spring.] 

Heads many-flowered, somewhat hemispherical ; ray-florets very nume- 
rous and usually in more than one series, pistillate,— those of the disk 
tubular, perfect. Scales of the involucre mostly equal, narrow, in a 
nearly single series. Receptacle flat, naked, punctate. Akenes com- 
pressed, usually pubescent. Pappus a single series of capillary scabroug 
bristles, often with minute ones intermixed, — or sometimes with an exte- 
rior coroniform pappus of subulate scales. Heads corymbose or panicu 
late. 



* Pappus single ; rays inconspicuous, white. 



COiJPO.-lIE FAMILY. 




1. F, Canade'l's?, L. Stem hirsute, panicnlately brancliBcl ; leaves 
Ian;- .-■inear. moslly entire, hispidlv ciliate : Leads of flowers ^rnall, liU- 
meruus. racemose on the l3ranches ; rays mimite. 
Caxadiax Erigerox. Horse-weed. Butter-weed. 

Root annual. Stem 6 mcties to 5 or 6 feet high. Leaves 1 -3 or 4 inches long, sessile, — 
the lower ones sparingly dentate. Rays white, very narrow, scarcely longer than the 
Btraw-colored pappus. Akenes ohlong, sparsely hispid. 

Fields, road-sides, and waste places : throughout the United States. Fl. Aug-jst Sept, 
JV. September -October. > 



Fig. 116. Portion of the upper part of the stem of Canada Fleabanc (Erigoron Cana 
dense). 11 T. A separate floret. 



"VYEEJDS A1\D TSEFUL PLANTS. 



Ohs. This plant vaiies very much in size, accordiDg' to tlie soil in which 
it grows. On dry sterile banks it is very dv^arf. It has disseminated 
itself, more or less abundantly, all over our country,— and, it is said, all 
over Europe ; and is a worthless weed, wherever found. Good farming 
is the mode for smothering out such intruders. 

Pappus double, the cuter rcw of minute scales; rays conspicuous, white. 

2. E. an'nnnm, Pers. Stem sparsely hirsute, corymibosely branched 
above ; leaves coarsely and sharply dentate-serrate, — the radical and 
lower ones ovate, obtuse, tapering into a margined petiole, — the others 
sessile, lanceolate, acute, entire near each end ; rayvS very narrow, about 
as long as the sparsely setose involucre. 

Annual Eeigeeon. Flea-bane. Daisy. 

i?ooi biennial? (annua-], DC). Stem 2-3 or 4 feet Ligli, rather stout, striate and often 
angular. Hadical leaves 2-4 inches long, roughish and hairy, with narrow-margined 
petioles nearly twice as long as the leaves ; stem-leaves gradually smaller as they ascend. 
Heads of florets rather small ; rays white, or sometimes tinged with purple. Akenes ob- 
long, somewhat compressed, hirsute ; pappus whitish, — the ray-florets destitute of pappus, 
except a few short coroniform teeth at or near the summit of the akene. 

Pastures and waste places; Northern, iliddle and Western States. Fl. June -July. 
Jr. August 

OSs. A frequent worthless weed in our pastures ; not particularly in- 
jurious, — but conspicuous enough to attract the notice of the observing 
farmer ; and therefore worthy to be known by him. 

3. E. strigo'snm, Muhl. Stem more or less strigosely hairy, corym- 
bosely paniculate above ; leaves lanceolate, narrowed at base, nearly en- 
tire, — the radical ones spatulate-lauceolate, tapering into a margined 
petiole ; rays narrow, nearly twice as long as the minutely hispid in- 
volucre. 

Steigose Eeigeeon. Flea-bane, Daisy. 

Boot biennial ? Stem 2-4 feet high, sulcate-striate and angular, rather slender, and ott-ea 
sparingly branched. Leaves 1-3 inches long. HeoAs of florets rather larger than in the 
preceding ; rays white. Ake,ies oblong, angular or ribbed, sparsely pilose : inner pappus 
in the disk, of about 15 slender fragile and deciduous bristles ; in the ray none, or some- 
times of one or two caducous bristles : the exterior a small setaceous-squamellate crown, 
similar in the ray and disk." Torr. & Gr. 

Pastures and upland meadows: Canada to Florida. Fl. June -August. Fr. July- 
September 

Ohs. This plant has a strong general resemblance to the preceding, 
but is more conmion, — though they are usually both confounded under 
the same popular names. This one is apt to be very abundant in the 
first crop of our upland meadows, in Pennsylvania, after a course of grain 
crops. After that — especially in good land — it becomes more rare,— 
being probably choked down by the grasses. All three of the species 
are equally worthless, unwelcome weeds. 



COMPOSITE YXSITLY. 



175 



6. SOUDA'GO, L. Goldex-rod. 

[Latin, SoJido, to unite, or make firm ; from its supposed healing yirtuos.] 

Heads few- or sometimes niaDv-flowered ; ray-fiorets few, pistillate ; dish 
ferrets tubular, perfect. Scales of the obong involucre imbricated, 
appressed, not green or foliaceous at apex. Receptacle small, mostly 
naked. Akenes many-ribbed, somewhat terete. Pappus simple, con- 
sisting of numerous scabrous capillary bristles, mostly equal. Heads 
in terminal or axillary racemes, with the pedicels often unilateral, 
— sometimes corymbose. Perennicds. with wand-like stems and nearly 
sessile stem leayes, neyer heart-shaped. 

1. S. nemoralis, -^id- Stem simple or corymbosely branched aboye, 
clothed with a yery short yelyety cinereous pubescence ; radical leayes 
oboyate-cuneate or spatulate. tapering into a petiole, sparingly crenate- 
serrate, — cauline ones oblanceolate. nearly entire^ roughish-pubescent ; 
racemes numerous, short, dense, unilateral, at length recuryed-spreading, 
often corymbose-paniculate ; scales of the inyolucre lance-oblong, obtuse, 
appressed ; akenes pubescent with white appressed hairs. 
Wood or GRoyE Solid ago. Golden-rod. 

Whole plant of an asli-colorcd or greyisli aspect, by reason of its short cinereous pu- 
bescence. :>tem 1-2 or 3 feet high, sometimes branched from near the ^-oot. Radical 
leaves 1-i or 5 inches long, with pelioles 1-3 inches long. Heads with 3-6 disk-florets, 
and 6-9 ray-florets, in secund racemes — or (in stunted branched specimens) often in 
small axillary clusters ; rays rather short, spatulate-oblong. 

Sterile, neglected old fields ; borders of woods, ice. : throughout the- United States 
fl. August -September. Fr. October. 

Obs. Seycral species of Solidago (or Golden-rod, as they are all 
named, in the yernacular tongue) — some of them much larger than this 
— occur along fence-rows, borders of woods and thickets, &c. They 
are all no better than weeds on a farm : but this is the one which 
mostly intrudes upon neglected pasture grounds, — and h?s therefore 
been selected for description, as a sample of the genus. It is speedily 
banished by good farming. — as most of our natiye weeds are, or may be. 
S, odo'ra, -Ad. The •• Sweet Golden-rod'' is found in dry soil — it i.=! 
distinguished by the smoothish, entire, linear-lanceolate le'^yes which 
contain numerous pelkicid dots of oil, with a pleasant odor. An infu- 
sion of the herb is used as an aromatic stimulant. The oil is "rometimes 
distilled from the plant, and is used for the same purpose. 

7. IX'ULA, L. Elecampane. 

[The ancient Latin name.] 

Heads large, many - flowered ; rays in a single series, yery numerous, li- 
near. Livolucral scales loosely imbricated, in seyera,l series, the outer 
foliaceous. Akenes -i-sided or terete ; pappus of capillary bristles. Pe- 
rennial ; leayes often clasping; heads solitary or corymbose .; j^o^i'^ri 
yellow. 



176 



■WEEDS AlSD USEFUL PLANTS. 



1. 1. Hele'nium, L. Stout ; pubescent ♦ leaves large, oblong ovate, those 
of the stem clasping ; akenes 4-sidecl. 

Elecampane. 

Ste7}t3-5 feet Iiigb, sulcate, branching above. Leaves 9-18 inches long, and 4-8 inches 
wide, acute or acuminate, denticulate, hoary-tomentosc beneath, — the radical ones petio- 
late. Outer scales of the involucre ovate, tomentose. Anthers produced at the base into 
two tails, or bristle-like appendages. Akenes smooth ; pappus pale tawn}'. 

Roadsides, &c. Naturalizad from Europe. July -August. 

Ohs. Common along road-sides, and having a very slovenly aspect 
after the flowering season is past. The large thick root has a camphor- 
like smell and a warm, bitter taste ; it was formerly in high repute as a 
medicine, but is now seldom used ; it is a tonic and expectorant, — as 
those medicines are called which affect the secretions of the throat. * 

8. AMBRO'SIA, Tournef. Eag-weed. 

[Poetically, Food of the Gods ; in this case something hke Lucus, a non lucendo.} 

Sterile and fertile flowers in different heads on the same plant ; 
the staminate in terminal racemes or spikes, — the pistillate ones at 
their base or in the axils of the upper leaves. Staminate Fl. Livo- 
lucre flatfish, hemispherical, or subturbinate, composed of several united 
scales, 5 - 20-flowered. Corolla funnel-form, o-toothed. Receptacle 
flatfish, usually with filiform chaff among the florets. Pistillate Fl 
Inv lucre globose-ovoid or turbinate, closed, acuminate, usually with 4 
-8 pointed tubercles near the summit, 1-flowered. Corolla none. 
Akene subglobose or obovoid. Annual herbs. Leaves lobed, or pinnati- 
fidJy dissected. 

1. A. trifi'da, L. Stem tall and stout, hairy and rough ; leaves mostly 
opposite, palmately 3 - 5-lobed, hairy, scabrous, — the lobes oval lanceo- 
late, acuminate ; petioles narrowly winged, ciliate ; racemes elongated, 
paniculate. 

Trifid Ambrosia. Great Rag-weed. 

stem 3-6 or 8 feet high, branched. Leaves 4-6 or 8 inches long ; petioles 1-2 inches 
long. Staminate heads small, numerous, in long terminal paniculate racemes ; ^oreis 
whitish. Pistillate heads at the base of the racemes ; the involucre turbinate-obovoid, 
with a conical apex, 6-ribbed, the ribs terminating in so many pointed tubercles round the 
base of the conical acumiuation. 

Low grounds and waste places : Canada to Georgia. Fl. August. Fr. October. 

Ohs. This coarse ugly weed is sufficiently common, and worthless, to 
entitle it to the notice of every farmer who desires to keep his premises 
clear of such nuisances. 

8. A. artemisisefo'lia, L. Stem paniculately branched, villous ; 
leaves bipiunatilid, smoothish above, somewhat canescent beneath, — 
the uppermost simply pinnatifid ; petioles ciliate with long hairs;' 
jacemes somewhat spicate, paniculate. 
Artemisia-leaved Ambrosia. Bitter-weed. Rag-weed. 



COMPOSITE FAMILY. 




stem 1 -3 or 4 feet high, usually much branched or bushy. Xeai-es 2-4 or 5 inches long ; 
pdioles half an inch to an inch and a half long. Siaminate heads small, numerous, in ter- 
minal .'lender spicate racemes. Pislillate heads solitary or clustered along the lower part 
of the staminate racemes and bracteate, or in the axils of the upper leaves ; sometimes 
the heads are dioecious — specimens occurring in which the terminal racemes (or rather 
spikes), as well as the clusters beneath, are all pistillate, and the flowers in small sessile 
bracteate clusters. 

Cultivated fields and pastures : Canada to Florida. Fl. August -September. Octo- 
ber. 



V'lG 118. The Great Ragweed (Ambrosia triflda), upper portion of stem reduced in 
ti/c 

8'^ 



173 



WEEDS AND USEFUL ThA^NTS. 



Obs. Tms worthless weed occurs in most cultivated grouuds, — and is 
usually very abundant among the stubble, after a crop of wheat : but, 
if the land be good, the plant seems te be smothered or clioked out, the 
next season, by the crop of clover and timothy. It is always ready, 
however — ^like several other coarse weeds — to make its appearance 
whenever the grassy turf is broken up. The curious anomaly above 
mentioned, — of the flowers on the terminal spikes being all pistillate, — 
is frequently met with. 

9. XAN'THIUM, 2ournef. Clot-bur. 

[Greek, Xantlws, yellow ; a color said to be produced by the plant.] 

Heads monoecious, in spicate clusters — the sterile spikes at the summit. 




Fio. 119. Flowering summit of the Cockle-bur (Xanthium strumarium) , witb heade o» 
ttaminate flowers above, the pistillate ones below. 120. A separate staminate flower very 
much enlarged. 121. A head of (2) pistillate flowers enclosed in the prickly involucre. 



COMPOSITE FAMILY. 



179 



Sta^iixate Fl. riumerons in siibglobose heads ; scales of the invclucre 
distinct, in a single series. Corolla tubular, clavate, somewhat hairy. 
Anthers conniveut but distinct. Style abortive, undivided. Receptacle 
oblong, terete, chafiy. Pistillate Fl. 2, inclosed in a 2-celIed oblong 
coriaceous closed involucre, which is armed with hooked prickles and 
terminated by 1 - 2 stout beaks, ('orolla filiform. Akenes solitary in 
each cell of the involucre, oblong, flat. Annual kerbs. Leaves alter- 
nate, lobed or dentate. 

1. X. strnma'rium, L. Leaves broad-ovate, mostly somewhat 3- lobed 
dentate, unarmed at base ; involucre of the fi'uit oval, with 2 straight 
beaks. 

SCEOPHLXOUS X A X T H I U M. 

Clot-bur. Cockle-bur. 

Fr. Lampourde. Germ. Die 
Spitzklette. Span. Lampazo 
pequeno. 

stem 1-3 feet high, roughish-pu- 
bescent, branching, ieai'&s 3-6 in- 
ches in length, andnearly as wide as 
long, subcordate at base, but cun- 
eately produced at the union of the 3 
principal nerves. 2/eads of flowers 
in axillary clusters. Involucre of the 
fruit persistent, becoming an oblong 
bur, with rigid uncinate pricliles. 

Road-sides and waste places : 
Northern and Middle States : intro- 
duced ? Fl. August — September. 
Pr. October 

Ohs. This has the appear- 
ance of a naturalized strang- 
er, but is considered by Gray 
as indigenous ; it is an obnox- 
ious weed, — though not much 
inclined to spread ; and with 
a little attention, is easily 
kept in subjection. The burs 
are a great annoyance in the 
fleeces of sheep. The var. 
echina'tuTn, has the fruit 
more prickly with the beak 
incurved. 

2. X. Spino'sum, L. Leaves ovate-lanceolate, entire or somewhat 




Fir;. ^^2■2. Brarch of the Thorny Clot-bur (Xanthium spincsum), showing the hooked 
prickly, mature involucres. 



180 



STEEDS AXD rSEFUL PLANTS. 



3-lobed, armed at base with slender 3-parted spines ; involucre of the 
fruit cylindric-oblong, with an inconspicuous beak. 
Spinose Xanthium. Thorny Clot-bur. 

stem 2-3 or 4 feet high, branched. Zeam 1-3 inches long, and one-fourth to three- 
fourths of an inch wide, entire or with a lobe-lilce tooth on each side, — the upper surface 
pale green, pubescent on the midrib — the under surface clothed with a sliort cinereous 
tomeutum, — the base narrowed to a short petiole — on each side of which is a triple or 
3-forked spine, the branches about an inch long, very sharp, yellowish or pale straw color. 
Heads of flowers axillary, solitary. 

Farm-yards, road-sides, &c. : Massachusetts to Georgia : introduced. Native of Eu- 
rope. Fl. September. Fr. October. 

Ohs. This execrable weed, believed to have originated in tropical 
America, and now widely diffused through various parts of the old 
world, is becoming naturalized in many portions of our country, — par- 
ticularly in the Southern States. It may be frequently seen along the 
side-walks, and waste places, in the suburbs of our northern sea-port 
towns, — and is a vile nuisance wherever found. I have understood that 
the authorities of one of our cities, a few years since, enacted an Ordi- 
nance against the plant, — in which enactment it was denounced by the 
name of the Canada Thistle ! The misnomer probably did not impair 
the efficacy of the Ordinance : yet I cannot help thinking it would be 
decidedly preferable that both lawgivers and farmers should avoid 
confounding objects which are essentially distinct,— and learn to desig- 
nate even weeds by their proper names. 

10. RUDBEC'KIA, L. Cox\e-flowee. 

[In honor of Olam Rudheck, father and son ; Sweedish botanists.] 

Heads many-flowered ; ray-fords neutral. Livolucral scales in about 2 
series, leaf-like, spreading. Receptacle more or less columnar ; choff short, 
conical, not rigid. Akenes 4-angled, smooth ; pappus a minute crown- 
like border. Chiefly perennials ; leaves alternate ; rays yellow, generally 
long and drooping. 

1. E. hir'ta, L. Hirsute ; lov/er leaves spatulate, petiolate, upper ones 
ovate-lanceolate, sessile ; disk conical, dark purple. 
Rough-haired Rudbeckia. 

Perennial? Stem l>^-4feet high, rather stout, often simple or branched near the 
base. Leaves 2-3 inches long,— the radical ones on hirsute petioles 1-2 inches in length. 
Heads of flowers middle-sized, on long stoutish striate sulcate naked peduncles ; chaff of 
the receptacle sublinear, rather acute, hairy and cihate at the summit. 

Fields and in dry soil. July - September. 

Obs. This is of late becoming rather common in cultivated lands, and 
cannot fail to attract the notice of the farmer. Another species which 
nearly resembles it, E. M'gida, ^it-, is also found in similar situations ; 
the latter has 3-nerved leaves, and smooth chaff to the receptacle. But 
little is known of their character as weeds, but they have apparently an 
encroaching disposition, and should be eradicated. * 



COMPOSITE FAMILY. 



181 



11. HELIAN'THUS, L. Sunflower. 

[Greek, Helios, tlie sun, and Anthos, a jflower • from the resemblance of the flowers.] 

Heads many-flowered; ray-florets numerous, ueutral. Involucre imbri- 
cated in 3 or more series, — the scales often foliaceous and spreading at 
apex. Receptacle flattish or convex, and large, — the peri isteut chaff em- 
bracing the akenes. Akenes laterally compressed or sometimes rather 4.- 
sided, not winged or margined. Pappus of 2 chaffy or awn-like scales, 
arising from the principal angles of the akenes, and often with 2 or more 
intermediate smaller scales, very deciduous. Herbs, annual or perennial, 
mostly stout and rough. Leaves opposite or alternate. Heads some- 
what corymbose or solitary ; rays bright yellow ; disk-florets yellowish, 
or sometimes purplish at summit. 

1. H. TUBERo'sus, L. Root bearing oblong tubers ; stem erect, branch- 
ing, scabrous ; leaves ovate, acuminate, serrate, 3-nerved, scabrous, petio- 
late, — the lower ones subcordate at base ; petioles ciliate ; scales of the 
involucre lanceolate, hispid and ciliate. 

Tuberous Heliaxthus. Jerusalem Artichoke. 

Fr. Topinambour. Germ. Die Erdartischoke. Span. Cotufa. 

22oo< perennial ? (or rather appearing perennial, by the annual production oi tuberous 
rhizomas ?) StemA-Q or 8 feet high, stout, branching, terete, hirsute. Leaves 4-6 or 8 
inches long, very scabrous ou the upper surface, abruptly contracted at base to a narrow 
cuneately-taporiug ma.Tgmed petiole, which is 1-2 or 3 inches long, — the lower leaves op- 
posite (or rarely ternate), the upper ones alternate. Heads rather large. Akenes some- 
what compressed and 4-sided, cuneate-oblong, smooth ; pappus 1-4 (usually 2) subulate 
chaffy scales. 

Gardens and lots : cultivated. Native of Brazil. Fl. August - Sept. Fr. October. 

Obs. This Sunflower is often cultivated for the firm fleshy tubers, or 
rhizomas, found at its roots. These tubers are pickled, and used as a 
condiment. They have been commended, also, for feeding stock. It 
may be remarked here, that in a rich mellow soil, they multiply so rapid- 
ly, as to make the plant rather troublesome and difficult to keep within 
bounds. The common name " Jerusalem Artichoke," is said to be a cor- 
ruption of the Italian name for the plant — Girasol. 

2. H. an'nuus, L. Root fibrous, annual ; stem stout, nearly simple ; 
leaves cordate and broadly ovate, petiolate ; heads subsolitary, very large- 

Annual Helmnthus. Sunflower. 

iS^feyn, 4-8 feet high. Leaves 6-12 inches lonr; and 4-8 inches wide, on petioles 3-6 
inches in length. Heads of flowers 4-15 inches in diameter, flat, often nodding ; rays 1-2 
inches long. Akemis obovate oblong, striate, somewhat pubescent, leaden-brown with 
white margins and stripes. 

Gardens. Native of Peru. August -October. 

Obs. This species is often cultivated, and is somewhat naturalized in 
gardens. A kind with the disk-flowers all developed as rays is common. 
"Tlie akenes contain considerable oil, and it has been recommended to cul- 
tivate the jjlant for the sake of this product ; the leaves and stems coo- 



18:2 



WEEDS AND L'SEFUL PLANTS. 



tain a large amount of potash, and it would probably be found a very 
exhausting crop. Fowls are very fond of the fruit, or seeds, as they are 
usually called. * 



12. ACTmO'MERIS, Nutt. Actinomeris. 

[Greek, dktin, a ray, and meris, a part ; the rays being sometimes few or irregular.] 



Heads many -flowered ; 
rays few or several, neu- 
tral. Scales of involucre 
in 1 - 3 rows. Receptacle 
convex or conical chaffy. 
Aken'es laterally compress- 
ed and winged. Pappus 
of 2 smooth persislent 
awms. Tall and branch- 
ing perennial herbs with 
serrate feather - veined 
leaves tapering to the 
base, and mostly decur- 
rent on the stem. 

1. A. SQUARRO'SA, Nutt. 

Stem somewhat hairy and 
winged above ; scales of 
Ihe involucre in 2 rows, 
the outer linear-spatu- 
late, reflexed ; rays 4- 
10, irregular. 

Squarrose Actinomeris. 

stem 4-8 feet high, smooth 
below. Leaves a foot or more 
in length. Akenes broadly wing- 
ed ; receptacle globular. 

Western and Southern States. 
September. ^ 

Ohs. This is said by 
Dr. Short to be a com- 
mon weed in cultivated 
grounds in Kentucky. , 




Fig. 123. Flowers of Actinomeris squarrosa. 124. A separate floret, the akene with a 
2-awued pappus. 



COMPOSITE FAIMILT. 



183 



13. BI'DEXS, L. BUE-MAEIGOLD. 

p^tin, Bi-denSy having 2 teeth ; in allusion to the a-svns of the akenes.] 

Heads many-flowered ; ray-Jiorets neutral, often inconspicuous and some* 
times -wanting,— those of the disk tubular and perfect. Involucrp. 
double, — the outer scales larger ard often foliaceous. Receptacle flat- 
tish, — the chaff deciduous with the fruit. Akenes flattened, or slender 
and more or less 4-sided, crowned with two or more retrorsely hispid 
awns. Annual or scmetimes perennial herbs. Leaves opposite, incised- 
serrate or pinnatifidly dissected. Flcu'ers mostly yellow. 
* AJicnes fiat and hrcadish, net beaked at summit, ciliatc on the margins. 

1. B. frondo'sa, L. Leaves odd-pinnately divided, — the lower ones 
with 5 divisions, the upper with 3 ; divisions distinct and mostly peti- 
olulate, lanceolate, serrate ; heads discoid, on slender axillary peduncles ; 
outer scales of the involucre foliaceous, narrowed and ciliate at base, 
much longer than the head ; akenes obovate-cuneate, 2-awned, pubescent 
and ciliate with erect hairs. 

Frondose Bidexs. Bur-marigold. 

Root annual. Stem 2-4 or 5 feet high, somewhat hairy, often dark purple, branched. 
Leaflets or segments 2-4 or 5 inches long', pilose beneath, abruptly narrowed at base to a 
short margined cihate j?€^ioZuZe, — the common petiole 1-3 inches long. Heads rather small, 
on long slender naked peduncles. Involucre double, — the 8-10 outer scales lanceolate, 
leaf-hke, unequal, 2 or 3-5 or 6 times as long as the liead, ovate-lanceolate, with a scarious 
margin. Florets yellowish. Chaff of the receptacle linear-lanceolate, about as long as 
the akenes. 

Gardens, fence-rows, Indian-corn fields, &c. : throughout the United States. Fl. Au- 
gust-September. Fr. October. 

Obs. All the species, here enumerated, are very worthless, and par- 
ticularly disagreeable weeds, — on account of the barbed awns of the 
fruit, which cause it to adhere in great numbers to clothing. This one 
is apt to be quite abundant in gardens, Indian-corn fields, &c. and if 
permitted to mature its fruit, becomes very annoying, in the latter part 
of summer. 

2. B. chrysanthemoi'des, 3Ir. Leaves oblong-lanceolate, tapering 
at each end, serrate, sessile, and connate at base ; heads conspicuously 
radiate, often somewhat nodding ; outer scales of the involucre foliaceous, 
mostly shorter than the rays I'^akenes oblong-cuneate, 2-4-awned, re- 
trorsely aculeate-ciliate on the margins. 

Chrysaxthemoi-like Bidens. Beggar-ticks. 

Plant clabrous. J?oo< annual. Stem 6 inches to 2 feet high, erect or often declined at 
base, branching, the branches opposite and axillary. Leaves 3-6 inches long. Heads 
rather large, solitary, terminating the branches. Outer scales of the involucre about 8. 
hnear-lanceolate, ciiiate-serrulate, spreading, the largest sometimes nearly as long as the 
rays : the inner scales membranaceous, elliptic or ovate-oblong, nearly equal, about as 
long as the disk-florets. i2a?/s bright yellow, numerous, near an inch long. Akenes striat«- 
ribbed and somewhat keeled on the flatted sides ; au-«s usually 4. Chaff of the receptacle 
spatulate-linear, scarious, 3-nerved, yellow, or sometimes purplish at summit. 

Low grounds, along swampy rivulets : generally throughout the United States. Fl. 
August -September. Fr. October. 

Obs. This species is rather showy, when in flower, — and is less inclined 
than either the preceding or the following to invade cultivated grounds 



184 



WEEDS AND USEFUL PLA^'TS. 



It is, however, quite an objectionable weed, on account of the vast quai> 
tity of its adhesive fruit, in autumn. There appear to be several varie- 
ties of the plant, — noticed in Torret & Gray's ^^i", A. Flora. 

^* Jkenes slender, linear, 4-sided, beaked at summit, mostly smooth. 




3. B. bipiima'ta, Z^- Leaves bipinnately dissected, petiolate, — the 
segments lanceolate or oblong-ovate, mucronate, usually narrowed at 
base ; heads few-rayed, small, on slender angular-sulcate terminal and 
axillary peduncles ; outer scales of the involucre scarcely as long as the 
inner ones ; akenes long and slender, 4-angled and grooved, 3 - 4-awned. 
BiPixxATE BiDExs. Spanish Needles. 

Plant glabrous. iZoof annual. 5'fe?n. 2-4 feet high, quadrang-ular, branched. Leaves 
2-4 or 5 inches long, deltoid-ovate in the outline ; pe'.ioles 1-3 or 4 inches long. Heads 
oblong, slender ; rays 3-4, obovate, small, yellow with dark veins ; dUk-floreis about 20, 



Fir,. 1'2.5. Spanish Needles (Bidens bipinaata.) 1-J6. A m iture ;il-:cne, w.;h 4 downward 
bristly awus. 



COirPOSlTE FAmLT, 



185 



vellow. Aketies about three-fourths of an inch long, somewhat scabrous with short erect 
hairs. Chaff of the receptacle lance-hnear, shorter than the akenes. 

Gardens and cultivated lots: New England to Florida. i^L August -September. Fr. 
October. 

Obs. This, like the B. frondo'sa — if cot carefully watched and eradi- 
cated — is a great pest in cultived lots, — especially in kitchen gardens 
and Indian-corn fields. One or two other species, equally worthless as 
the preceding, are frequently to be met with, in low grounds : but those 
here given are the most common, and the most annoying, — and therefore 
most entitled to the notice of the farmer. 

14. MARU'TA, Cass. May-weed. 

[Etymology obscure.] 

Heads many-flowered ; rays mostly neutral. Involucre hemispherical, — • 
the scales imbricated in few series, shorter than the disk. Receptacle 
prominently convex or oblong-conical, chaffy all over or only at summit. 
Akenes obovoid or obconic, ribbed, destitute of pappus. Annual herbs. 
Leaves bi- or tri-pinnately dissected. 

1. 31. Cot'ula, DC. Scales of the involucre with whitish scarious mar- 
gins-, receptacle conical, chaffy at summit only ; chaff subulate. 
Stinking Chamomile. Dog's Fennel. May-weed. 
Fr. Maroute. Germ. Stinkende Kamille. Span. Manzanilla fetida. 

Plant strongly fetid. Stem 6-12 inches high, mostly erect, somewhat pilose, leafy and 
much branched. Leaves 1-2 or 3 inches long, bi- and tri-pinnately dissected, — the seg- 
ments short, flat, linear, acute. Heads terminal on elongated pubescent peduncles ; rays 
white ; disk yellow, prominently convex or subcyhndric. Akenes oblong or obconic, 
Etriate-ribbeci, mostly tuberculate in lines, with a minute disk at summit, but no sort of 
pappus. 

Farm-yards and waste places ; throughout the United States : introduced. Native of 
Europe. i^'Z. June -September. JV. August -October. 

Obs. This disagreeable little weed has become extensively naturalized ; 
and although not apt to spread to an injurious extent over cultivated 
grounds, it is often c{uite abundant in lanes and farm-yards, and not 
easily expelled. The plant possesses tonic and emetic properties, similar 
to those of Chamomile, and though very nauseous is sometimes used as 
a substitute for that. It is said that the bruised fresh plant will pro- 
duce blistering if applied to the skin. 

15. AN'THEMIS, L. Chamomile. 

[Greek, AntheTnon, a flower ; in allusion to the great number it bears.] 

Heads many-flowered ; rays pistillate. Scales of the involucre imbricated 
in few series. Receptacle conical, with membranaceous chaff among the 
florets. Akenes terete or obtusely quadrangular ; pappus minute, coroui- 
form, or sometimes wanting. Annual or perennial kerbs. Leaves bipiii- 
nately dissected. 

1. A. no'bilis, L. Stems simple, numerous, spreading and decumbent, 
' villous ; leaves pinnately dissected, subvillous, — the segments multifid 
with the sub-divisions linear-subulate ; chaff of the receptacle scarious, 
lanceolate, not awned at apex, a little shorter than the florets. 



186 



WEEDS AXD rSEFUL PLA^fTS. 




127 

Noble Axthemis. Chamomile. Garden Chamomile. 

Ft. Camomille Eomaine. Germ. Die Kamille. Span. Manzanilla, ' 

Ttojt perennial, woodJ^ Stems simple, but numerous from the root. 4-8 or 10 inches 
long. Leaves 1-2 inches long, sessile. Heads terminal on elongated' leafless pubescent 
penducles ; rays white, finally reflexed ; disk yellow, convex and at length conical. AJ<e)iei 
with a nearly obsolete crown-form pappus. 

Gardens : 'cultivated. Native of Europe. Fl. July. Fr. September. 

Ohs. The whole plant (and particularly the heads of flowers) is a fine 



Fig. 127. Majweed (Maruta Cotula). reduced 



COMPOSITE FAMILY. 



187 



aromatic bitter, and desarvedly popular as a tonic medicine, — for which 
purpose it is generally cultivated. It is an old and still prevalent opin- 
ion, that this plant thrives better for being trampled upon or kept pros- 
trate, whence it was popularly called " the Whig Plant " during the rev- 
olutionary contest in the United States. The notion is thus incident- 
ally alluded to by Shakspeare, in the first part of his Kiyig Henry IV. — 
"For though the Camomile, the more it is trodden on the faster it 
grows — yet youth, the more it is wasted the sooner it wears." This is 
said to be naturalized in Delaware ; another species is quite common 
about Xew Tork, A. arven'sis, L., which has the leaves less divided and 
the chaff of the receptacle pointed. 



16. ACHILLE'A, L. Yarrow. 

[Named after AcliiUes, who first used the plant.] 

Heads many- or several-flowered ; rays few and short, pistillate ; tube of 
the dish-florets obcompressed. Invohtcre ovoid-oblong, — the scales imbri- 
cated, unequal. Receptacle flat or sometimes elongated, chaffy. Akenes 
oblong, obcompressed, somewhat margined, destitute of pappus. Pe- 
rennial herbs. Leaves alternate, mostly pinnatifld. Heads small, co- 
rymbose. 

1. A 3Iillefo'lium, L. Stem mostly simple; leaves bipinnately dis- 
sected, — the segments linear, incised-serrate, acute ; corymb compound, 
fastigiate ; rays about 5, roundish-ob ovate. 

Thousand-leaf Achillea. Tarrow. Milfoil. 

Fr. La Millefeuille. Germ. Die Scafgarbe. Span. Milenrama. 

Stem 2-3 feet high hairy and somewhat lanuginous, mostly simple, corymbose at sum- 
mit. Leaves 2 or 3-6 inches long (the radical ones still longer), nearly sessile, much and 
finely dissected. IZeatfe small, numerous, in a dense terminal fastigiate corymb; rays 
white or often tinged with purple, crcnate-dentate at apex ; disk-florets whitish, — the tube 
sprinkled with resinous particles. Akenes obcompressed, slightly margined near the sum- 
mit, smooth. Eeceijtacle small, flat ; c/iajf lance-oblong, acute. 

Pastures, fence-rows, &c : throughout the United States : introduced. Native of 
Europe. Fl. June - Sept. Fr. Aug. - October. 

Obs. This foreigner has become completely naturalized. It is ap 
aromatic bitter, and somewhat astringent, — quite popular as a tonic. 
The English agricultural writers speak of it as a plant of some value, 
in their pastures ; but I believe rt is universally regarded here as a mere 
weed. Certainly it is far inferior to our usual pasture plants, — and I 
think our cattle rarely eat it. Another species, A. Ptarmica, L. (Sneeze- 
wort,) is naturalized in some places. It differs from the above in hav- 
ing simple, lance-linear, and sharply serrate leaves, and has much more 
conspicuous rays. 



1.88 



WEEDS AND USEFUL PLANTS. 




17. LEUCAN'THEMUM, Toumef. Ox-eye Daisy. 

[Greek, Leukos, white, and Anthemon, a flower ; in reference to its white rays.] 

Heads many-flowered ; rays pistillate, numerous. Involucre spreading, 
broad and nearly flat, — the scales imbricated, with scarious margins. 
Receptacle flat or somewhat convex, naked. Tube of the disk-jioreis 
fleshy, obcompressed, and slightly 2-winged. Akenes of the disk and ray 
similar, subterete, striate, destitute of pappus. Perennial herbs. Leaves 
alternate, mostly pinnatifid or incised-dentate. Heads rather large, soli- 
tary and terminal. 



Fig. 131. The Wliite-weed or Ox-eye Daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare). 



COMPOSITE FxVMILY. 



189 



1. L. vulga'rc, Lam. Stem erect, some^vhat branched ; leaves lacmi- 
ately incised or pinnati fid-dentate, — the cauline ones sessile and some- 
what clasping — the radical ones obovate-spatulate, petiolate ; scales of 
the involucre with narrow russet-brown margins. 

CoMMOx Leucaxthemum. Daisy. Ox-eye Daisy. White-weed. 

Fr. L'oeil de Beuf. Germ. Die Wucherblume. Span. Margarita 
mayor. 

stem 1 to near 2 feet high, erect or subdecumbent, angular and striate, somewhat hairy, 
simple or sparingly branched, but often several from the same root. Leaves 1-2 inches 
long, the upper stem-leaves oblong, the lower ones cuneate-spatulate, and the radical 
ones obovate or orbicular-spatalate. Heads broad ; rays very white — in length about 
equal to the diameter of the disk ; dislc-JioretsjQ\\o\Y. Akenes subterete, ribbed, smooth, 
dark purple between the ribs, destitute of pappus. Receptacle slightly convex, dotted. 

Fields and meadows, more or less throughout the United States : introduced. Native of 
Europe. J'Z. June -Aug. J'r. July -September. 

Ohs. This vile intruder is becoming a great nuisance in our country. 
In some districts the careless, slovenly farmers have permitted it to get 
almost exclusive possession of their pasture fields, — rendering them quite 
white when the plant is in bloom. Cows will occasionally crop a por- 
tion of the weed in our pastures, — and I have heard it alleged that it 
contributes to the making of good butter : but my own observations 
induce me to regard it as utterly worthless. It is propagated rapidly, 
and is, moreover, exceedingly difficult to get rid of, when once fully es- 
tablished ; so that one negligent sloven may be the source of a grievous 
annoyance to a whole community. I have understood that annual 
ploughing and cropping for a few years, is the most effectual remedy for 
the evil ; but then the fence-rows and neighboring fields must be well 
watched, to prevent the formation and introduction of fresh seed. The 
Corn Marigold (Chrysanthemum segetum, L., a kindred plant) — which 
is said to be such a pest to the agTiculture of Europe — does not appear 
to have found its way, as yet, to the United States. 

18. TANACE'TUM, L. Taxsy. 

[Corrupted from Athanasia, Gr., a, not, and Thanalos, death : from its durable flowers.] 

Heads with the florets all perfect, with the marginal ones pistillate in a 
single series. Scales of the involucre imbricated, dry. Receptacle more 
or less convex. Akenes angled or ribbed, with a large epigynous disk. 
Pappus none or minute, coroniform. Perennial herbs, or suffruticose 
plants. Leaves alternate, dissected. Heads corymbose. 

1. T. vidga're, L. Stem herbaceous, smoothish ; leaves bipinnately 
parted, — the rachis and lobes incised-serrate ; heads heterogamous, num- 
erous, in a dense fastigiate corymb ; pappus coroniform, of five equal 
lobes. 

CoMMOx TANACET.r. Tausy. 

Fr. Tanaisie. Germ. Der Eainfarn. Span. Tanaceto. 



190 



^VEEDS AXD USEF.UL TLAXTS. 



Stems 2-4 feet high, somewhat branched above, often growing in clusters. Leaves 2 or 3 
- 6 or 8 inches long, interruptedly pseudo-pinnate — the seginents pinnatifid, unequally 
incised-serrate. Heads depressed-hemispherical ; involucre smoothish, — the outer scales 
lanceolate, acuminate — the inner ones oblong, obtuse ; fioi-ds deep yellow, numerous and 
densely crowded, the marginal ones trifid, obsoletelj^ radiate. Receptacle nearly flat. 

Gardens, fence-rows, way-sides, &c.: introduced. Native of Europe. jFL July -Aug, 
Pr. September. 

Obs. This was originally introduced as a garden-plant, and generally 
cultivated for its aromatic bitter properties, — which have rendered it a 
prominent article in the popular Materia Medica. It has now escfrped 
from the gardens, and is becoming naturalized — and something of a 
weed — in many places. 

19. AETEMI'SIA, L. Wormwood. 

[Said to be so called from Aiiemis, — one of the names of Diana.] 

Heads discoid, few- or many-flowered, the marginal florets pistillate in a 
single series, and 3-lobed, — or sometimes the heads are with the florets 
all perfect. Scales of the involucre imbricated, mostly dry, with scari- 
ous margins. Receptacle flattish or convex, naked or villous. Akenes 
obovoid, with a small epigynous disk, destitute of pappus. Herbaceous 
or fruticose—mo^ilj perennial plants. Leaves alternate, usually pinnat- 
ifid. Heads small, racemose, or paniculately spicate. 

^ Receptacle naked ; the central or disk-jiorets sterile. 

1. A. Dracun'culus, L. Herbaceous, green and glabrous ; stem erect, 
branching ; radical leaves trifid at apex, — stem-leaves linear-lanceolate, 
sub-dentate or entire ; heads subgiobose, racemose-paniculate 

Little Dragon Artemisia. Tarragon. 

Fr. Estragon. Germ. Esdragon. Span. Estragon. 

Root perennial. Stem 2-3 feet high. Leaves 1 - 2 or 3 inches long, mostly entire sessile, 
narrowed at each end, those on the branches smaller. Heads small. Florets yellowish. 
Gardens : cultivated. Native of Russia and Siberia. Fl. August. Fr. September. 

Obs. This species is sometimes cultivated in the kitchen gardens of 
the curious, for the sake of its aromatic herbage. It is said to impart 
a fine flavor to vinegar by steeping a bunch of the green herb in that 
liquid. 

^ Receptacle hairy ; the jlorets all fertile. 

2. A. Absin'thium, L. Silky-canescent ; stem suffruticose, angular- 
sulcate, paniculately branched above ; leaves bipinnatifid,— the seg- 
ments lanceolate, often incised ; heads hemispherical, racemose-panicu- 
late, nodding. 

Worm-wood. 

Fr. L' Absinthe. Germ. Der Wermuth. Span. Axenjo. 

Plant hoary with a short and rather dense silky pubescence. Root perennial. Stem^ 2- 
4 feet high, clustered or numerous from the root. Leaves 1 - 2 or 3 inches long, petiolate, 
xaultifld or irregularly bipinnatifid, — ^the principal sesjaents often trifid and cuneate al 



COMPOSITE FAMILY, 



191 



base, the sub divisions elliptic-oblong, obtuse, entire. Heads numerous, in leafy panicu- 
late racemes ; florets yellowish. Akenes obcouic-oblou^', smooth. 
Gardens : cultivated. Native of Europe. J'L August, i^"/-. Sept. -October. 

Obs. This plant — proverbial for its bitterness — is generally kept in 
gardens ; and is valuable for its medicinal properties, as a tonic, vermi- 
fuge, &c., and is occasionally seen growing spontaneously along roads 
and lanes. 

Tkere is another species (A. Abrota'num, L.), commonly known by 
the name of " Southern-wood," or " Old Man," frequent in gardens ; 
and a fourth (A. vulga'kis, L.), called " Mug-wort," is occasionally met 
with ; but these are of less importance, and scarcely entitled to a place 
here. 

20. GNAPHA'LIUM, L. Cudweed. 

[Greek, Gnaphalon, soft down or wool, — with which the plants are clothed.] 

Heads many-flowered ; florets all tubular, — the outer ones pistillate^ very 
slender, mostly in several series — the central ones perfect. Involucre 
ovoid ; scales imbricated, appressed, scarious or hyaline. Receptacle flat. 
Akenes subterete. Pappus in a single series, capillary and scabrous. 
Herbs mostly woolly or tomentose. Leaves sessile or decurreut. Heads 
corymbose, glomerate, or spicate. 

L G. polyceph'alum, Mx. Stem herbaceous, erect, paniculately 
branched ; leaves linear-oblanceolate, acute, sessile and not decurrent, 
smoothish above, tomentose beneath ; heads numerous, in terminal co- 
rymbose clusters. 

Many-headed Gxaphalium. Life-everlasting. 

Root annual. Stem 1-2 feet high, hoary-tomcntose and generally much branched 
Leaves 1-Z inches long, somewhat undulate on the margins, green and nearly smooth on 
the upper surface, whitish and densely tomentose beneath. Heads rather small, oblong- 
ovoid, ochroleucous, aggregated in dense terminal clusters, very fragrant. Florets 
Blender, yellowish. Akenes oblong, subterete, smooth. Pappus somewhat tawny. 

Old fields and pastures : Canada to Texas. Fl. Aug. - Sept. Ir. October. 

065. This is often quite abundant in old pasture fields ; and although 
not a pernicious plant, it is altogether valueless to the farmer, and must 
be regarded as a mere weed. 

21. ERECHTHI'TES, Rafin. Fire-weed. 

[The ancient Greek name of some species of Groundsels.] 

Heads many-flowered, discoid ; marginal florets pistillate, very slender, 
2-3-toothed, — the others perfect, 4 - 5-toothed. Involucre cylindrical, 
— the scales in a single series, linear, acute, bracteolate. Receptacle na- 
ked, somewhat papillose. Akenes oblong, striate, somewhat attenuated 
at apex. Pappus copious and smoothish, of very fine capillary bristleg 
in several series. Annual herbs. Heads corymbose. 



192 



WEEDS AXD USEFUL PLANTS. 



1. E. hieracifo'lia, R^^f- Stem simple, or paniculate at summit; 
leaves lance-oblong, narrowed at base, acute, unequally incised-den 
tate, sessile, — the upper ones often sagittate-auriculate and somewhat 
clasping. 

HiERACiuM-LEAVED Eeechthites. Firc-wced. 

stem 2-4 or 5 feet high, rather large, succulent and tender when young, striate-ssulcate, 
more or less hairy, sometimes nearly smooth. Leaves 3-6 or 8 inches long. Heads 
middle-sized, often numerous, in small cymose corymbe terminating the paniculate 
branches; involucre terete-oblong, slightly ventricose ; _/Zorefs whitish or ochroleucous, 
very slender and numerous. Fappus very white, of numerous fine and almost silky 
bairs. Receptacle flat, roughish-dotted. 

Moist grounds, recent clearings, &c.: throughout the United States. Fl. July-August. 
Fr. September. 

Ohs. This plant (which has much the aspect of a Sonchus, or Sow- 
thistle) is remarkable for its pre- 
valence in newly cleared grounds, 
— especially in and around the 
spots where brush-wood has been 
burnt ; whence its common 
name, "Fire-weed." It is a 
coarse, worthless w^eed, and 
often very abundaiil iu new 
grounds ; but it is iiot apt to 
be troublesome i\i cultivated 
fields. 



hairs. 




22. SENE'CIO. i. 

SFL. 



Gj;ound- 



[Latin, Senex, an old man ; the pappus 
resembling a white beard.] 

Heads many-flowered, — either 
discoid with the florets all tu- 
bular and perfect — or radiate 
with the ray-florets pistillate. 
Involucre subcylindric with tha 
scales in a single series, or caly- 
culate with a few accessory 
scales. Receptacle w&kQ^. Akenes 
not beaked nor winged— often 
grooved or ribbed. Pappus of 
numerous very slender caducous 
Herbs with alternate leaves and solitary or corymbose heads. 

* Heads without rays; root annual. 



Fig. 128. The common Groundsel (Senecio vulgaris). 129. A flower. 130. An akeno 



COITPOSITE FAiHLT. 



193 



1. S.vvlga i-is, L. Leaves pinnatifid and dentate, — the lowest petiolate, 
the upper clasping ; heads nodding. 

CoMiiox Sexecio. Groundsel. 

stem 6-12 inches li:gb, paniculatelv brancliing, angular, mostly smoothish. Leaves 
1-3 inches long, — the upper ones somewhat auricled and clasping, — the lower ones ou 
petioles }i an inch to an inch in length. Involucre somewhat obconical, smooth ; scales 
often sphacelate, or blackish at apes, bracteolate at base. Akenes pubescent on the ribs. 

Obs. A homely little weed in waste grounds from New Engand to 
Pennsylvania. De Caxdolle says that it has migrated almost every- 
where with European men ; but whether it is likely to become trouble- 
some to our farmers is not yet ascertained. 

Heads radiate, corymbose ; root perennial. 

2, S. au'reus, L. Smooth, or often somewhat arachnoid-woolly when 
young ; radical leaves roundish-ovate and subcordate, or varying to 
obovate and oblong-lanceolate, crenate-serrate, petiolate ; lower stem- 
leaves lyrate — the upper ones lanceolate, pinnatifid, sessile or partly 
clasping ; corymb subumbellate. 

Golden Sexecio. Golden Eagwort. Squaw-weed. 

stem 1-2 feet high, corvmbosely branched, — the lower branches elongated, axillary 
and distant — the upper ones crowded or subumbellate at the summit of the stem. Leaves 
1-3 inches long, varying in form on the different varieties ; petioles of the radical leaves 
1 or 2 -6 or 8 inches long. Heads terminal on the fastigiate branches ; rays and disk yel- 
low. Akenes linear-oblong, striate-ribbed ; pappus white. 

Banks of streams, moist sterile fields, and meadows : throughout the United States 
Fl. April - June. Fr. June - July . 

Obs. A very variable plant, some forms of which have been described as 
species. The principal varieties are, var. obovatus, ^ith roand-obovate 
root-leaves ; this usually grows in dryer places than the var. Balsamitse, 
which has the root-leaves oblong, spatulate, or lanceolate, sometimes 
cut-toothed, tapering into the petiole. The last named variety is a fre- 
quent weed in poor moist meadows and pastures, where the farmer may 
often see patches, in the spring, made conspicuous by its yellow rays. 
The var. obovatus (called " Squaw-weed") has been denounced, by an 
Agricultural writer in Xew York, as being poisonous to sheep ; but I 
know not how correctly, and am rather inclined to doubt the accuracy 
of the statement. The Senecios are a multitudinous family. Prof. De 
Caxdolle describes nearly 600 species — of which about 40 are enume- 
rated by ToRREY & GEAv'^as inhabitants of Xorth America. Although 
the species are so numerous, and, I believe, altogether worthless, I do not 
know that they have been found very troublesome on the farm. 

23. CEXTAUEE'A, L. Star-thistle.^ 

[From the Centaur, Chiron, — who, it is said, cured his wound with the plant.] 

Heads many-flowered ; florets unequal,— the marginal ones larger and 
neutral, or sometimes wanting,— the central ones perfect. Involucre 
roundish ovoid, the scales variously margined or appendaged. Receptacle 
bristly. Akenes compressed. Pappus usually composed of scabrous fili- 
9 



194 



WEEDS AND USEFUL PLAJJTS. 



form bristles in one or more series — the inner series often smaller and 
somewhat connivent. Polymorphous kerbs. Leaves alternate. Hcadi 
solitary, large. 

1, C. Cy'aims, Covered with a 
loose cottony clown ; stem erect, much 
branched ; leaves lance-linear, sessile, 
entire — the lower ones broader, taper^ 
ing into a kind of petiole, toothed or 
pinnatifid at base ; pappus shortei 
than the akene. 

Blue Oentaueea. Blue-bottle. Eag 
ged Robin. Blue Bonnets, of thi 
Scotch. 

Fr. Bluet. Germ. Die Korn-blume. 
Span. Ciano. 

i?oo< annual. 1 - 2 or 3 feet higli. Leaves 
2-6 inches long, hoar^-villous or lanuginous 
— especially on the unoer side. Heads round- 
ish-ovoid, pedunculate, not bracteate ; outer 
scales of the involua-e ovate-serrate, — the in- 
ner ones longer, lanceolate, scarious and en- 
tire below, serrate near the apex. Florets of 
the centre regular, with a slender tube, mostly 
violet-purple, — the marginal ones obsoletely 
pistillate, larger, spreading or recurved, fun- 
uel-form with along tube, blue, or sometimes 
purplish or white. Akenes oblong, compress-- 
ed, striate, pilose, with a cavity {areola) on 
one side of the base ; pappus composed of nu- 
merous russet scabrous hairs of unequal 
length. 

Gardens and cultivated fields : Northern 
and Middle States : introduced. Native of Europe. Fl. July. Fr. August. 

Ohs. This plant is often seen in gardens, and in some places is grad- 
ually straggling into the cultivated fields. As it is considered a trouble- 
some weed, among the grain crops of Europe, it may be well to watch 
and arrest its progress here. Every worthless intruder should be regarded 
with a jealous eye, by the farmar. C. ni'gra and C. Calci'trapa, L., are 
naturalized to some extent ; the former, known as " Knapweed,'" has the 
scales of the involucre margined with a short black fringe and short 
pappus — principally in New England. C. Calci'trapa, or " Star Thistle," 
has the middle scales of the involucre terminating in spines, and no 
pappus. — Virginia. 

24. CYNA'RA, VaiU. Artichoke. 

[Greek, Kyon, kynos, a dog ; the spines of the involucre resembling dogs' tectn.J 

Heads many-flowered ; florets all equal. Involucre ovoid — the scales im- 
bricated, coriaceous, produced into a lanceolate appendage which is 



Fig. 132. The Bluebottle (Centaurea Cyanus). 133. A divided head, showing a marginal 
and disk-flower remaining on the bristly receptacle 




COMPOSITE FAMILY. 



195 



spinescent at apex. Receptacle flat, fimbrillate or bristly-cLaffy. Corolla 
5-cleft — the limb thick at base, half as long as the tube, the lobes very 
unequal. Akeivs obovate compressed or 4-sided, smooth. Pappus in 
several series, long, plumose — the bristles free at base, but attached to 
a deciduous ring. Perennial spinose herbs. Leaves alternate, pinnati 
fidly lobed, not decurrent. Heads large, with a thick flesliy receptacle. 

1. C. Scoltm'us, L. Stem branching; leaves subspiuose, bipinnatifid 
and sometimes undivided, tomentose beneath ; scales of the involucre 
ovate, thick and fleshy at base, obtuse at apex and somewhat eniargi- 
nate — rarely subspinescent, straight or slightly divergent. 
Artichoke. 

Ft. Artichaud. Germ. Die Artischoke. Span. Alcachofa. 

Root perennial. Stem 3-5 feet high, stout, striate and tomentose. leaves large, entire 
or lobed and spinose. Heads ovoid, 2-3 inches in diameter ; florets blue or violet-purple. 
Gardens : cultivated. Native country uncertain. Fl. Aug. Fr. Sept. 

Ohs. The thick receptacle, together with the fleshy bases of the scales 
of the involucre, affords a favorite vegetable dish, — for which this plant is 
cultivated. Another species, called Cardoon (C. Cardunculus, L.), with 
the leaves all bipinnately lobed, and more spinose, to which the foregoing 
is nearly allied (if, indeed, it be not, as Prof. De Candolle suggests, a 
mere variety produced by long culture) , is also cultivated for the thick 
fleshy petioles and ribs of the leaves, which are rendered delicate and 
white by etiolation, or blanching, after the manner practiced with 
Celery. 

25. CIR'SIUM, Tournef. Thistle. 

[Greek, Kirsos, a varix, or enlarged vein ; for ^vhich the plant was a supposed remedy.] 

Heads many-flowered ; florets all similar and perfect, or rarely imperfectly 
dicEcious. Involucre subglobose ; scales imbricated in numerous series, 
mostly cuspidate or tipped with a spine. Receptacle fimbrillate. Akenes 
oblong, compressed, not ribbed, glabrous. Pappus of many series, the 
hairs united into a deciduous ring at base, plumose, merely denticulate 
(the stouter ones slightly clavellate) at apex. Biennial or perennial herbs. 
Leaves alternate, sessile or decurrent, often pinnatifid with the margins 

j and segments spinose, — the radical ones much larger than the cauline, as 

t is usual with biennials. 

^ Involucral scales all tipped with spreading prickles. 

1. C. lanceolo'tum, Scop. Leaves decurrent on the stem and forming 
a spinose lobed wing, pinnatifid, prickly hispid on the upper surface, 
cobwebby beneath — the segments lanceolate, bifid, divaricate, spinose ; 
involucre ovoid, nearly bractless ; scales linear-lanceolate, tipped with a 

j spine, the outer ones spreading. 

I Lanceolate Cirsium. Common Thistle. 

k 

Fr. Chardon lanceole. Germ. Die Kratzdistel. Span. Cardo. 



196 



AVEEDS AXD USEFUL PLANTS. 



Root biennial. Stem 2-4 feet high, branched, striate-sulcate, hairy, winged by the de- 
current leaves. i€ares4-8 or 12 inches long. Heads terminal, erect, about an inch in 
diameter ; scales of the involucre connected by a cobweb-like villus. I lorets purple, with 
yellowish anthers. Akenes small, obovate-oblong ; pappus about an inch long, sillcy. 

Pastures, fence-rows, way-sides, kc. : Xorthcru and Middle States : introduced. Xativo 
of Europe. J'L June -July. J^r. July -August. 

Ohs. This foreigner, wliicb deliglits in a ricli soil, is abundantly nat- 
uralized in the Northern States, generally. Though not so repulsive 
and ugly as some others of the spiuose Compositee, it is nevertheless a 
very objectionable weed on the farm, and requires constant vigilance and 
attention to exclude it, or keep it in subjection. If permitted to mature 
its fruit, the spreading pappus may be seen, by hundreds, floating the 
akenes through the air, and disseminating the noxious intruder far and 
wide. 

Scales of the involucre appressed ; the inner ones not pricJcly : filaments 
hairy. 

f Leaves white, woolly beneath. 

2. C. dis 'color, Spreng. Leaves deeply pinnatifid, sparsely hairy and 
green above, densely hoary-tomentose beneath — the segments linear- 
lanceolate, cuspidate and spinulose-ciliate ; involucre ovoid-oblong ; 
scales appressed, tipped with a slender prickle — the outer or lower scales 
lance-ovate, the inner or upper ones linear-lanceolate. 

Two-colored Ciesium. 

Root biennial. Stem 2-5 feet high, with rather slender spreading leafy branches, 
striate, pubescent with crisped membranous hairs, iearas 3 or 4-12 or 15 inches long 
(those on the branches small), the under surface bluish-white with a soft dense tomen- 
tum. Heads 1-2 inches long, and an inch or more in diameter ; scales somewhat arach- 
noid-villous. Florets reddish-purple, with whitish anthers. 

Fields and borders of thickets : Northern and Western States. I'l. Aug. -Sept. Fi: 
Sept. -October. 

Obs. Like all others of the genus, this is a worthless, obnoxious weed, 
but is much easier kept in subjection than the preceding. 

ff Leaves green on both sides, or with loose ivooll y hairs beneath ; scales of 
the involucre scarcely prickly pointed. 

3. C. pu'miium, Spreng. Leaves semi-amplexicaul, pinnatifid, green 
on both sides — the segments short, irregularly lobed, spinulose-ciliate and 
pointed with strong sharp spines ; heads few and large, roundish-ovoid, 
bracteate ; scales of the involucre appressed — the outer ones ovate- 
lanceolate, acuminate, tipped with a short spine, the inner ones lance- 
linear with acuminate scarious serrulate tips. 

Low OR Dwarf Cirsium. Pasture Thistle. 

Plard pale grej^ish green. Root biennial. Stem 1-2 feet high, stout, sparingly branched, 
striate, rctrorsely pilose. Leaxes 4-12 inches long, very prickh", more or less hairy, 
densely pilose on the midrib beneath. Heads few (1-3), often near 2 inches in diameter, 
mostly with large pinnatitid spinose bracts at base. Florets often 2 inches in length, 
usually of a pale reddish-purple, with whitish anthers. 

Neglected old fields and low grounds : iiiddle and Northern States. Fl. July. Ff 
August. 



'COMPOSITE FAMILY, 



Ols. The ilowers of tliis species are quite fragTant, aad the heads 
somewhat showy or conspicuous, being larger than those of any other 
native thistle. It does not disseminate rapidly, and is therefore easily 
kept in subjection by proper attention. 

4. C. horrid 'lllllin., ^i^c. Leaves semi-amplexicaul, pinnatifid, lanugi- 
nous beneath — the short segments toothed or incised, strongly spinose ; 
involucre ovoid, large, with a verticil of pectinately spinose bracts at 
base ; scales loosely imbricate J, linear-lanceolate, tapering to a subulate 
point, but scarcely spinose. 
SoiviEWHAT RUGGED CiRsiuii. Yellow Thistlc. 

Tlcol liieunial ? (perennial, DC). Stem IS inclies to 2-3 feet higli, rather stout, simple 
T sparingly branched, arachnoid-lauuginous wh3a young, finally smoothish. Leaves 
4-1-i iuehcs lo'jg, hairy on the uppor surface, lanuginous beneath, — the segments pointed 
with short rigid spines. Heads terminal, few, (often but one), nearly as large as in the 
preceding spt-eies, surrounded at base by a whorl of numerous (10-20 or 30) linear- 
lanceolate bracts, about as long as the involucre, — the bracts subpinnatifld or sinuate- 
dentate, pectinately spinose, with the spines somewhat in pairs, or fascicled. Florets an 
inch to an inch and a half long, pale yellow (sometimes purple ? or becoming purple in 
dr. ring ?). 

Pastures and waste places : sea coast, from Massachusetts to Louisiana : introduced. 
Fl. July. Fr. Augr.st. 

Ohs. A rugged and repulsive plant, which is very common on the sea- 
shore, and which it is very desirable should remain a stranger to our 
farms. 

Scales of the appressed involucre harely pricUy pointed ; filaments 
nearly smooth ; heads imperfectly diccc/ous. 

P>. C. arven'se, Scop. Ehizoma creeping ; stem rather slender, striate- 
angled, paniculatciy branched at summit ; leaves sessile, lance-oblong, 
sinuate-pinuatifid and dentate, undulate, ciliate-spinose ; heads numerous, 
small ; involucre oblong-ovoid ; scales appressed, lance-ovate, mucro- 
nate, — a few of the outer ones cuspidate-spinose. 
Field Cirsium. Canada Thistle. Cursed Thistle. 
Fr. Chardon aux Anes. Germ. Die Acker Kratzdistel. 

Rhizoma perennial, — creeping horizontally 6-8 inches below the surface of the ground, 
and giving off numerous erect biennial branches. Stem 18 inches to 3 feet high, slender 
and smoothish, — the branches slender and lanuginous. ieai-es 4 - 8 or 10 inches long, 
sessile and slightlj' decurrent, smoothish on the upper surface, sometimes arachnoid- 
Unuginous beneath, — the radical ones curled or wavy. Heads half an inch to two-thirds 
of an inch in diameter, terminal, sub-pedunculate ; scales smoothish, minutely ciliate. 
Florets palish lilac-purple, with whitish anthers, perfect or the heads dioecious by abor- 
tion. Akencs linear -oblong, slightly 4-cornered ; pajjpus finally longer than the florets. 

Fielils and wav-sides : Northern and Middle States : introduced. Native of Europe. 
Fl. July. Fr. August. 

Ohs. This is, perhaps, the most execrable weed that has yet invaded 
the farms of our country. The rhizoma or subterranean stem (which is 
perennial and very tenacious of life), lies rather below the usual depth of 
furrows — and hence the plant is not destroyed by common ploughing. 
This rhizoma ramifies and extends itself horizontally in all directions, — 
sending up branches to the surface, where radical leaves are developed 



193 




tbe first year — and aerial stems the secoud year. The plant appears to 
die at the end of the second summer ; bnt it only dies down to the hori- 
zontal subterranean stem. The numerons branches sent up from the rhi- 
zoma, soon cover the ground with the prickly radical leaves of the plant : 
and thus prevent cattle from feeding where they are. Xothing short of 
destroying the perennial portion of the plant will rid the ground of this 
pest ; and this, I believe, has been accomplished by a few years of con- 
tinued culture (or annual cropping of other plants, that require frequent 
ploughing, or dressing with the hoe,) — so as to prevent the development 



Fig. 134. The Canada Thistle (Qrsium arvense), reduced. 



COilPOSITE FAMILY. 



199 



of radical leaves, and deprive the rhizoma of all connection or communi- 
cation with the atmosphere. 

The following notice of this annoying weed, from Curtis' Flora Lon- 
dinensis, may not be uninteresting to the American farmer : 

" Vitium agrorv.m apucl nos primariiim est [it is the greatest pest of 
our fields,] Lixxjsus observes in his Flora Lapponica. The s&me may be 
said with us : and we have bestowed on this plant the harsh name of 
cursed, with a view to awaken the attention of the Agriculturists of our 
country to its nature and pernicious effects. 

" Repeated observation has convinced us that many husbandmen are 
ignorant of its economy,— and while they remain so, they will not be 
likely to get rid of one of the greatest pests which can affect their corn- 
fields and pastures. Of the thistle tribe the greatest part are annual or 
biennial, and hence easily destroyed. Some few are not only perennial, 
but have powerfully creeping roots. — and none so much as the present. 
In pulling this plant out of the ground, we draw up a long slender root, 
which many are apt to consider as the whole of it ; but if those employ- 
ed in such business examine the roots so drawn up, they will find every 
one of them broken off at the end : for the root passes perpendicularly to 
a great depth, and then branches out horizontally under ground." 

Two or three other species of Cirsium are frequently to be met with, 
(viz. : C. muti'cilin, ^1^, with the heads not spinose, — and C. altis'si- 
mum, Spreng., with the stem-leaves not pinnatifid) : but, as they do not 
incline much to infest the open grounds or farm-land, I have not judged 
it necessary to notice them more particularly here. 

26. OXOPOR'DON, Vaill. Cotton Thistle. 

Heads and flowers nearly as in Cirsium. Scales of the involucre coria- 
ceous, tipped with a lanceolate prickly appendage. Receptacle deeply 
honey-combed. Achenia 4-augled, wrinkled. Pappus of numerous bris- 
tles, slender, not plumose, united at the base into a horny ring. Coarse 
herbs ; the stem winged with the decurrent base of the prickly -lobed 
leaves. 

1. 0. Acan'thium, L. Stem and leaves cotton-woolly ; scales of the invo- 
lucre linear awl-shaped. 
Cotton Thistle. 

Annual. Stem "2-4 feot high, broadly winged by the decurrent edges of the leaves. 
Leaves ovate-oblong, sinuate and spiuose, woolly on both sides but most so beneath. 
Flowers large purple, soUtary at the end of the branches. Involucre globose, of nume- 
rous lanceolate very pungent scales, green with yellowish tips, the upper ones nearly erect, 
the middle ones spreading, the lowermost reflexed, all connected by a cottony web. 
Pappus scarcely half the length of the florets, jointed, rough downwards. 

Naturalized from Europe .Tuly- August. 

Obs. A coarse thistle-like plant, conspicuous by the white cottony 
appearance of its stem and leaves. Yery common along road-sides and 
m waste places in Xew England. This is"^ said to be the true Scotch Uii'?* 
tie, the national omblem. 



200 



TS'EEDS AXD USEFUL TLAXTS. 



27. LAP'PA, Tournef, Burdock. 

[Greek, labdn, to seiza ; from its adhesive iuvolucres.] 

Heads many-flowered ; florets all perfect and similar. Involucre globose; 
scales imbricated, coriaceous, appressed at base, spreading and subulate 
above, with the rigid apex uncinately incurved. Receptacle bristly. 
Akenes oblong, compressed, transversely wrinkled. Pappus in several 
series, short, filiform, scabrous, not united into a ring at base, caducous. 
Biennial herbs, coarse and branching. Leaves alternate, subcordate, 
petiolate, large. Heads rather small, solitary or somewhat corymbose. 

1. L. major, Gcertn. Lower leaves cordate- oblong, upper ones ovate; 
scales of the involucre all subulate with uncinate tips, smooth or loosely 
arachnoid. 

Greater Lappa. Bur-dock. 

Fr. Glouterou. Germ. Die Klette, Span. Bardana Lampazo. 

Root bicunial. Stem 2-4 or 6 feet high, paniculately braaching, striate-sulcate, rough- 
ish-pubesceat. Leaves green and roughisli pubescent above, paler and arachnoid-tomen- 
tose beneath, — the radical ones 1-2 feet long, erosely dentate and undulate on the margin, 
(sometimes pinnatifiJ, or coarseh- and deeply dentate); petioles 9-18 inches long ; stem- 
leaves smaller, and more or less ovato. Heads roundish-ovoid, on short peduncles, termi- 
nal and axillary; scales of the involucre subulate-lanceolate, keeled, minutely serrulate, 
smoothish, spreading, with the point incurved and hooked. Florets purple, with bluish 
anthers. JL7ue?ies compressed, angular, rugose. Receptacle fimbrillate, — the bristly chaff 
smooth, longer than the akenes. 

Fence-rows and vraste places : introduced. Native of Europe. Fl. Jul}-- September 
Fr. Sept<}mber- October. 

Ohs. Everybody knows this coarse homely weed, "wherever it has gain- 
ed admittance, — but everybody does not take care to keep it in due sub- 
jection. One of the earliest and surest evidences of slovenly negligence 
about a farm-yard, is the prevalence of huge Bur-docks. The plant is 
considerably bitter ; and the leaves are a favorite external application in 
fevers, head-ache, &c. 

28. CICHO'RIU]^!, Tournef. Succory. 

[Etymology obscure : perhaps from Chicouryeli, the Arabic name of the plant.] 

Head.< usually many-flowered. Involucre double, — the outer one of about 
5 short spreading scales — the inner one of 8 - ] 0 scales. Akenes turbinate, 
somewhat compressed and angular, striate, glabrous. Pappus of nume- 
rous very small chaffy scales. Branching herbs; Jiowers bright blue, 
showy. 

1. C. Intifbus, L. Radical leaves ruucinate, hispidly scabrous on the 
midi'ib. — the cauline ones small, oblong or lanceolate, partly clasping, 
sinuate-dentate or entire — those of the branches inconspicuous : heads 
axillary, subsessile, mostly in pairs. 
Wild Succory. Chiccory. 

Fr. La Chicoree sauvage. Germ. Der Wegewart. Span. Achicorla. 



202 



WEEPS AND USEFUL PLANTS. 



Rool perennial, somewhat fusiform. Stem 2-4 feet high, angular-stnate, ronghish- 
pubescent, with numerous and somewhat virgate scahrous bi'anchcs. Radical leaves 4-8 
or 10 inches long, numerous. Heads axillary on the side of the stem and branches, in 
pairs or often solitary. Fiords blue, or sometimes purphsh — and not unfrequently white — 
all ligulate and radiating towards the circumference. Pajypus of minute chatfy scales, 
oblong, obtQse or emarginate, in a double series. 

Fields and meadows : Northern and Middle States : introduced. Native of Europe. 
Fl. August. Fr. September - October. 

Ohs. This foreigner is becoming extensively naturalized. Some Euro- 
pean Agriculturists recommend it as a valuable forage plant, — though 
they admit that it gives a bad taste to the milk of cows which feed upon 
it. In this country, it is generally — and I belive justly regarded as an 
objectionable weed, which ought to be expelled from our pastures. The 
roasted root has been used on the continent of Europe, as a substitute 
for the Coffee-berry ; but those who delight in the aromatic beverage, are 
not likely to take much interest in this or any other substitute for the 
^genuine article. 

2. C. Enifi'via, Willd. var. sati'va, DC. Eadical leaves somewhat erect, 
obovate-oblong, sinuate-dentate, and often pinnatifid, smoothish, — the 
cauliue ones auriculately dilated at base ; heads sessile and aggregated 
in twos and fours in the axils of the upper leaves, or solitary on elongat- 
ed branches. 

Endive. Garden Succory. 

Fr. La Scarole. Germ. Die Endivie. Span. Endibia. 

Root biennial — or sometimes annual. Stem 2-3 feet high, terete, fistular, some wha\ 
branched, smoothish, or often sparsely hirsute. Radical leaves 6-12 inches long, sinuate- 
dentate with the teeth varying from large to very small and numerous, sometimes pin- 
natifld with the margin curled and lacerate, slender and tapering to the base. Outer scales 
of the involucre hispid-cihate. Florets violet-purple, or sometimes white, — the hgules at 
first involute. Akenes turbinate or obconic, somewhat compressed, angular and ribbed ; 
pappus of minute chaffy scales in a double series. 

Gardens : cultivated. Native of India. Fl. July -August. Fr. September. 

Ohs. Cultivated for the young radical leaves, — which are etiolated or 
blanched by the exclusion of light, and used as a salad. 

29. LEON'TODOI^r, L. Fall Dandelion. 

[Greek, Icon, a lion, and odous, a tooth ; from the toothed leaves.] 

Heads many-flowered. Involucre scarcely imbricated, but with several 
bractlets at the base, Achenia spindle-shaped, striate, all similar. Pap- 
pus of plumose bristles, enlarged towards the base, persistent. Low, 
stemless perennial herbs, with toothed or pinnatifid root-leaves, the 
scapes bearing one or more yellow heads. 

1. L. autumna'le, L. Leaves more or less pinnatifid ; scape branched ; 
peduncles thickened at the summit, and furnished with small scaly 
bracts ; pappus, tawny, of a single row of equal bristles. June to 
Nov. Kawkbit. Fall Dandelion. 

Ohs. This introduced plant is especially abundant in New Englau<.^ 



COilPOSITE FAMILY. 



203 



where it infests gras^p^ots, begiuDing to flower in June, and continuing 
until the frost. The flowers much resemble those of the Dandelion. 
Varies with the leaves, more or less hispid. 

30. TEAGOPO'GON, Tournef. Salsify. 

[Greek, Tragos, a goat, and Pogon, a beard ; in allusion to the pappus.] 

Heads many-flowered. Involucre in a nearly single series ; scales 8 - 
16, somewhat united at the base, finally reflexed. Akenes sessile, with a 
lateral areola at base, scabrous, terminating in a long continuous ]>eak. 
Pappi'is in several series, — all plumose except the 5 outer ones, which 
are longer than the rest. Biennial or perennial herbs. Leaves sublinear, 
witli parallel nerves. 

1. T. poerifo'lium, L. Glabrous ; leaves lance-linear, acuminate, very 

entire ; penduncles somewhat obcouical, fistular ; scales of the involucre 

about 8, lanceolate, acute, longer than the florets. 

Leek-leaved Teagopogon. Oyster-plant. Salsify. 

Fr. Salsifis. Germ. Der Bock-bart. Span. Barba cabruna. 

Plant glabrous and somewhat glaucous. Boot biennial? (annual DC), fleshy and fusi- 
form. Stem 3-4 or 5 feet high, sparingly and somewhat dichotomously branched. Leaves 
6-12 or 15 inches long, ovately dilated at base, and tapering to a long narrow acumiua- 
tion, keeled, sessile and semi-araplexicaul, somewhat distichous. Heads terminal, on en- 
larged clavate hollow peduncles. Florets violet-purple with a fuscous tinge. Akenes 
lance-oblong, striate-sulcate, scabrous, tapering to a smooth slender beak, about an inch 
in length, and supporting the pappus at summit. 

Gardens : cultivated. Native of Europe. Fl. June. Fr. July. 

Ohs. This is frequently cultivated for its fleshy root, — which, Avhen 
properly cooked, has something of the flavor of fried Oysters ; whence 
one of its common names. 

31. TAEAX'ACUM, Haller. Dandelion. 

[Greek, Tarasso, to stir or disturb ; in allusion to its supposed active properties.] 

Heads many-flowered. Involucre double, — the outer scales small, 
appressed, spreading or reflexed — the inner ones erect, in a single series. 
Akenes oblong, striate-ribbed or angled, minutely muricate on the ribs, 
often spinellose at summit, — the apex abruptly produced into a long 
slender beak. Pappus in many series, capillary, very white. Perennial 
stemless herbs : leaves, consequently, all radical. Heads of flowers mostly 
solitary, on simi^le fistular naked scapes. 

1. T. Bens-leo'nis, Desf. Leaves lauoe-oblong, unequally and acutely 
runcinate, — the lobes triangular, dentate anteriorly ; scales of the 
involucre not corniculate at apex, the outer ones reflexed. 
LiON-TOOTii Taeaxacum. Daudeliou. 

Er. Dent de Lion. Germ. Der Loewenzahn. Span. Amargon. 

Plant at first somewhat pubescent, at length smooth. Root perennial. Leaves 4 -10 or 
12 incaes long. -Scapes several from the same root, 4-12 or 15 inches long (elongating), 



204 



WEEDS AXD USEFUL PLANTS. 




terete, each bearing a single head. Involucre ohlong, — the inner scales lance-linear, ap- 
pressed, with scarious margins — the outer ones reflexed, slightly cihate, — ^finally the entire 
involucre reflexed. Fiords yellow. AJcenes terminating in a leak., which is short at first, 
then suddenly elongating to about three-fourths of an inch in length, filiform, bearing the 
pappus at summit, diverging so as to form a globose bead. 

Pastures, &c.: nearly throughout the United States : introduced. Native of Europe. 
Ft. April - August. Fr. May - September. 

Obs. This foreigner — althongli not a very obnoxious plant — Las be- 
come so thoroughly naturalized as to be more abundant than welcome, 
in our pasture-grounds and meadows : and yet, if it cannot be repressed 
or smothered out by better plants, it will be a difficult task to extirpate 
it, — as myriads of seeds are annually wafted over the country by 



Fig. 137. Flower and leaf of the common Dandelion (Taraxacum Dens-Leonis). 138 
An enlarged separate floret. 139. A receptacle witb a portion of the ake^es remaining 
140. An enlarged akene with the pappus at the end of its elongated beak. 



COMrOSlTE FAMILY. 



205 



means of the pappas. The plant is medicinal, and is popular as a 
remedy in diseases of the liver. The leaves are used as a pot-herb, or 
" greens," and the young radical leaves, when blanched, are said to 
make a good substitute for Endive. 

32. LACTU'CA, Tournef. Lettuce. 

[Latin, Lac, milk ; in reference to its milky juice.] 

Heads few, or several-flowered. Involucre subcylindrical ; scales in 2 - 
4 series, — the outer ones shorter and broader. Akenes flatly obcom- 
pressed, wingless, abruptly produced into a filiform beak. Pappm in 
several series of soft white hairs. Leafy-stemmed caulescent lierbs. 
Heads of flowers paniculate or corymbose. 

1. L. Scaeio'la, var. sati'va, Moris. Stem corymbosely branching, 
leafy ; radical leaves erect, oval, narrowed at base, wavy, — the cauline 
ones cordate, amjDlexicaul. 
Garden Lettuce. Salad. 

Fr. La Laitue. Germ. Der Salat. Span. Lechuga. 

Plant smooth, mostly yellowish green and glaucous, — sometimes fuscous and tinged with 
dark purple. Root annual. Stem 2-4 feet high ; branches clothed with numerous small 
leaves. Heads numerous, terminal, small. Inner scales of the involucres lanceolate, — the 
outer or lower ones ovate. Florets yellow. Akeiies lance obovate, striate-ribbed, about 
half as long as the fihform beak. 

Gardens : cultivated. N-ative comitry uncertain, — probably India. Fl. July. Fr. Aug 

Obs. This plant — called salad, par excellence — is almost universally 
known, and cultivated. Those forms known as Curled and Head Salad, 
formerly considered as distinct species, are now believed to be mere 
varieties of the above. The milky juice with which the plant abounds 
at flowering time is very bitter, and possesses narcotic properties ; col- 
lected and dried, it form.s the Lactucarium of the shops, which is some- 
times used as a substitute for Opium. There is a native species (L. 
elong'a'ta, Mahl.) freqiieatly to bo met with, on the firm ; but it is 
scarcely of sufficient importance to be entitled to notice, here. 

33: SON'CHUS, L. Sow-thistle. 

[Ancient Greek name of obscure meaning.] 

Heads many-flowered, tumid at base. Scales of involucre more or less 
inbricated. Akenes compressed, ribbed, not beaked; j^appws copious, 
of very white, soft, fine silky hairs, smoothish and glaucous herbs ; 
florets yellow. 

1. S. olera'ceiis, L. Leaves runcinate-pinnatifid, dentate, sagittate and 
clasping ; akenes transversly rugose. 
Common Sow-thistle. 

Annual. Stem 2 -.3 feet high, branched, hollow, tender, glandular -pilose above. Leaves 
3-8 inches long, — the loicer ones runcinate, on petioles 1-2 inches in length, — upper one? 
clasping. Heads of flowers in terminal and axillary cymose panicles ; peduncles thickisb 



206 



WEEDS AXD USEFUL PLANTS. 



clothed when young with a loose flocculent white tomcntum ; involucre tumid and orbicula/ 
at base, abruptly contracted above*to an acumination. 
Gardens and cultivated grounds. August- September. 

Obs. Besides the above, the Spiny-leaved Sow-thistle {S. as' per, L.) is 
frequently met with ; it has prickly toothed leaves, those of the stem 
clasping it by conspicuous rounded auricles ; and smooth, nerved akenes. 
xl perennial species (5. arven'sis, L.) with very large flowers, is sparingly 
introduced aloiig the sea-coast. 

Order XLL LOBELIA' CE^. (Lobelia Family.) 

IIe)-'bs with milky juice, alternate leaves, and scattered ^oi{'e?-s (i. e. not heads). Calyx-tube 
more or less adherent to the ovarj'. Corolla tubular, irregularly o-lobed, slit longitudi- 
nally, nearly or quite to the base on one side. Stamens 5, united into a tube by their an- 
thers, and more Or less completely by their filaments ; free from the corolla. Seeds nume- 
rous with fleshy albumen. The plants of this family are generally acrid and poisonous. 

1. LOBE'LIA, L. Lobelia. 

[Xamed in honor of Matthias de Lobel, — a Flemish Botanist.] 

Calyx 5-lobed ; the sinuses sometimes with an appendage ; tube short, 
tumid. Corolla tubular, — the tube cylindric or funnel-form, cleft on the 
upper side nearly to the base ; limb somewhat bilabiate, — the upper lip 
mostly smaller and erect — the lower one broader, spreading, 3-cleft or 3- 
toothed. Anthers coherent in a tube, — the 2 lower ones bearded at 
apex. Pod 2-celled, many-seeded, opening at the top. Flowers race- 
mose-spicate, of various colors — usually blue or red. 

1. L. infla'ta, L. Stem erect, hirsute, pauiculately branched ; leaves 
subsessile, lance-ovate, crenate-dentate, pilose ; racemes leafy ; flowers 
small, axillary ; calyx-tube ovoid, sraoothish, the segments as long as the 
corolla, the sinuses not appeadaged ; capsule ovoid or oval, inflated. 
Inflated Lobelia. Eye-bright. Indian Tobacco. 

Root annual or biennial. Stem 9-18 inches high, sometimes angled or slightly winged 
by the decurrence of the leaves, often very hairy ; branches axillary. Leaves 1-3 in- 
ches long, more or less ovate, unequally sinuate-dentate or crenate. Peduncles one-fourth 
to half an inch long. Corolla pale blue, rather inconspicuous. Capsule thin and mem- 
branaceous, smoothish. Seeds minute, eUiptic-oblong, rough with ferruginous reticulated 
ridges. 

Pastures, road-sides, &c. : Canada to South Carohna. Fl. July -September. Fr. Au- 
gust-October. 

Obs. This is an acrid plant, — possessing emetic, cathartic, and nar- 
cotic properties ; and is somewhat notorious for the use made of it by & 
tribe of reckless modern Empirics. It is frequent in our pastures, in the 
latter part of cummer, — and has been suspected of causing the ptyalism 
or slabbering of horses so often observable at that season. I cannot, 
however, help doubting the correctness of the opinion ; for the horse is 
a (i-ainty animal in the selection of his food. I have often remarked the 
ca^-e and dexterity with which he separates the palatable herbage from 
U) which is not so ; and have never seen him eat, nor even crop, so 



HEATH FAMxLT. 




141 ' 112 ^ 

acrid and offensive a weed as this Lobelia. Several other species are 
common, two of which are admired for the beauty of their blue and red 
floT>-ers. — particularly the crimson Cardinal-flower, (L. cardina'lis, L.) ; 
which is sometimes' used by the "Indian doctors" under the name ot 
'• iJ^g/;-6e/2fi,'' probably to distinguish it from Low-belia.'' It is one 
of the most showy of our wild flowers, bears transplanting to the garden, 
and is worthy of ' being cultivated. A variety is sometunes met with in 
which the flowers are aU white. 

Order XLIL EEICA'CE^, (Heath Family.) 

Sh}-vhs or sometimes herbs with mostly alternate leaves without stipules, and regular or 
nearly regular ^oicers. Corolla 4-5-lobed (rarely 4-5-petalled). Staviens as many or 



Fig. 141. A branch of Indian Tobacco (Lobelia inflata) with fruit and flowers. 142. An 
enlarged flower showing its corolla split down on one side. 143. The same with calyx and 
corolla remoA-ed, exposing the stamens united by both filaments and anthers. 



WEEDS AND USEFUL PLANTS. 



twice as many as the lobes or petals ; anOiers 2-cellecl, often with aim like appendages^ 
and frequently opening hy pores at the summit. Style 1. Ovary 3 -lO-cellcd. Fi-uit a 
berry or capsule. Seeds small , with fleshy albumen. 

This is an interesting Order, — comprising some plants of a medicinal character, and a 
number that are exceedingly beautiful — especially the Azaleas, Rhododendrons, Kalmias, 
and m;iny species of the multitudinous genus (Erica) which is the type of the family. 
§1. Huckleberry Sub-famly. Calyx-tube adherent to the ovary, which becomes a berry 

or berry-like fruit. Anther-cells nearly distinct, tapering upwards into a tube. 
Ovary 10-celled, with a single ovule in each cell. Berry with 8-10 

largish seeds or nutlets. 1. Gaylussaoa. 

Ovary 4-5-celled, with several ovules in each cell. Berry many- 
seeded. 2. Vaconium. 
^ 2. Heath Sub-family. Calyx free from the ovary. Corolla some- 
times of nearly or quite distinct petals. Seed-coat mostly thin and 
close-fitting. 
Fruit a berry or drupe. 

Corolla dropping off after blossoming. 3. ARcrosxAPiiYLoa.- 

Fruit berry-like ; the calyx becoming enlarged and fleshy. 

Anthers 4-awned at the top. 4. Gaultheru, 

Fruit a dry pod ; the calyx not enlarging. 

Corolla ovate or oblong cylindrical, 5-toothcd. 5. Andromeda. 

Corolla bell-shaped or wheel-shaped, with 10 depressions or 

pouches. 6. Kalmta. 

Corolla of 5 separate petals. 7. Clethra. 

§3. Pyeola Sub-family. Calyx free from the ovary, 5-parted, per- 
sistent. Corolla of 5 separate petals. Seeds with a loose transpa- 
rent and cellular coat. 
Flowers in a corymb or umbel. Style very short ; stigma broad and 
orbicular. 8. Chisuphila. 



1. GAYLUSSA'CIA, K B. K. Huckleberry 

[Dedicated to Gay Lussac, a distinguished French Chemist.] 

Corolla ovoid or bell-shaped ; the border 5-cleft. Stamens 10 ; anthers 
awnless ; the cells tapering and tubular above, opening by a pore or 
chink at the summit. Fruit a berry-like drupe, containing 10 nutlets. 
Leaves mostly deciduous and entire. Branching shrubs, commonly 
sprinkled with resinous dots, bearing white (purple or red tinged) flowers 
in bracted racemes. 

1. G-. frondo'sa, Torr. ^- Gr. Smooth ; leaves obovate-oblong, obtuse, 
glaucous beneath ; bracts oblong or linear, deciduous, shorter than the 
slender drooping pedicels ; corolla ovoid campanulate. 

Leafy Gaylussacia. Dangle-berry. Blue Tangles. 

stem 3-5 feet high, branching; branches rather slender. Leaves 1-3 inches long, 
tapering at each end but obtuse at the apex, cuneate at base, on very short petioles. 
Racemes lateral, loose, few-flowered ; pedicels 3>^ an inch to an inch long, with two minuis 
subulate sub-opposite bractlets near the middle ; corolla white tinged with red. BeriHes 
rather large, globose, dark blue, with a glaucous bloom when mature. 

Moist woods and thickets : New England to Kentucky. May - June. 

2. G, resino'sa, Torr. ^ Gr. Pubescent while young ; leaves oblong* 
oval, at first ciliate and viscid with resinous dots ; pedicels short ; brt cts 
and bractlets (reddish) small and deciduous ; corolla ovoid-conical 
Eesinous Gaylussacia. Black Huckleberry, 

Stem 1-3 feet high, much branched. Leaves 1-3 inches long, thickly sprirkied rf?th 
atoms and flat shining patches of yellow resinous matter beneath ; petioles short but diji 



HEATH FAMILT. 



20d 



tinct". Racemes nuaierous, with the flowers crowded ; pedicels 1-3 lines long, with very 
small lanceolate bracllets at or near the base ; corolla mostly redd'sh, with tinges of pale 
yellowish green. Berries depressed-globose, black and shining when mature, without any 
bloom. 

Woodlands and swamps : common. May -June. 

Ohs. The genus Gayliissacia, separated from Yaccinium on account 
of its different fruit, contains besides the above-mentioned species two or 
three others which, as they are not very common, and are not valuable 
for their fruit, are omitted. Of these the Dwarf Huckleberry, (Gf. du- 
mo'sa, Torr. ^ G?:,) which has very conspicuous bracts to the pedicels, 
and a bristly or glandular ovary becoming a black insipid fruit, is found 
near the coast from New-England southward. The first of the species 
here described .is readily distinguished by its long, loose racemes. In 
New-England it is not much valued, but farther south, where it attains 
greater perfection, the fruit is highly esteemed. G, resino'sa is the plant 
which furnishes the larger share of the " black huckleberries" of the 
northern markets. The fruit presents several varieties, among them 
one that is nearly white. The flowers of this species as well as the 
young leaves often become fleshy and expand to many times their natu- 
ral size ; probably from the puncture of some insect. The fruit of both 
the species described here is known in some parts as " seedy huckle- 
berries." , * 

2. YACCIN'IUM, L. BLUEBERR-^r. Cranberry. 

[An ancient classical name ; etymology obscure.] 

Corolla either bell-shaped, urn-shaped, or cylindrical, — the limb 4-5- 
cleft, and often reflexed. Stamens twice as many as the lobes of the co- 
rolla ; anthers with two tubular horns at summit, and sometimes with 
two bristle-like awns on the back near the base. Berry globose, umbil- 
icate at apex by reason of the persistent calyx-teeth, 4:-5-celled, — the 
cells several-seeded. Shrubs with solitary, clustered or racemed flowers ; 
the corolla white or reddish. 

^ 1. Leaves evergreen ; corolla deeply d-parted : anthers 8, aivnless, taper- 
ing upwards into very long tubes ; pedicels slender ; berries acid, red. — 
Cranberry. 

1. V. macrocar'pon, Ait. Stems slender, creeping, with ascending 
branches ; leaves oblong, obtuse ; peduncles lateral. 

Large-fruited Yaccinium. Cranberry. 

stem 1-3 feet long, sending up short slender branches. Leaves about an inch long, 
Blightly revolute on the margin, whitish beneath ; petioles very short. Peduncles about an 
inch long, 1-flowered, libracteolate near the nodding flower. Corolla pale purple ; lohei 
linear lanceolate, reflexed or revolute. Berry globose, }i an inch or more in diameter. 

Peat bogs : common northward. Fl. May - June. Fr. Oct. 

Obs. This species, so highly valued for its fine acid fruit, grows 
abundantly in the cold bogs of the Northern states ; the fruit being 
collected in large quantities for market, and is even a considerable arti- 



210 



WEEDS AND USEFUL PLANTS. 



cle of export. Of late years, especially in Massachusetts, attention has 
been given to the culture of the Cranberry, and it is found to be a 
profitable crop upon lands otherwise of little value. In cultivation it 
is found to succeed in situations much dryer than those in which it 
grows in the wild state. Another species, the small cranberry (V. Oxy- 
coc'cus, L.), has a much smaller fruit, spotted when young, but is sel- 
dom found in great abundance. ^" 
^ 2. Corolla oblong cylindrical or slightly urn-shaped, 5-toothcd; anthers 
10, awnless ; Jilameiits Jmiry; berries blue or black with a bloom, sweet. 
Blueberey. 

2. V. Pennsylvan'lcuin, Lam. Dwarfish ; branches yellowish green, 
somewhat warty ; leaves lance-oblong, mucronaite- serrulate, smooth and 
shining ; racemes fasciculate. 

Pennsylvanian Yaccinium. Dwarf Blueberry. Sugar Huckleberry. 

stem 6 inches to 2 feet high, much branched ; branches more or less angular with a 
green warty bark. Leaves 1 to near 2 inches long, mostly acute at each end, nearlj" sessile, 
distinctly serrulate, with bristle-pointed teeth. Racemes 4-8-flowered, terminal and lateral, 
numerous from buds without leaves and often on leafless branches ; pedicels 1-4 lines long, 
with small lanceolate bractlets at or near the base ; corolla pale red or greenish-white 
tinged with red. Berries abundant, large and sweet. 

HiUs and woodlands : Pennsylvania, northward. Fl. May. Fr. July, 

Obs. This is the earliest of the Blueberries, ripening its fruit in July ; 
it is found occupying large patches upon poor and otherwise unproduc- 
tive land. In the state of Maine it is especially abundant, and attains 
its greatest perfection ; we have seen the slender bushes actually pros- 
trate with their load of fruit. Although it is too soft to bear trans- 
portation as well as some other kinds, the fruit is the most highly valued 
by the country people of New Eugland for domestic consumption. * 

3. Y. vaccirians, Solander. Low, glabrous ; branches angular, smooth ; 
leaves obovate or oval, serrulate or entire, smooth on both sides, pale 
or dull. 

Low Blueberry. 

stem 1-2}^ feet high ; hranclies greenish sometimes clouded with purplish, very closely 
set with white dots, sometimes warty. Leaves 1 inch to 1)4 inch long, rather obscurely ser- 
rulate, the serratures more distinct towards the apex. Racemes from scaly buds distinct 
from the leaf-buds ; pedicels shorter than the flowers ; corolla somewhat bell-shaped with 
spreading segments, yellowish white, often tinged with red. Berries large, sweet and 
covered with a hght bluish bloom. 

Woodlands : Penn., northward. Fl. May. Fr. August. 

Obs. A much larger plant than the preceding species, and distin- , 
guished from it not only by its greater size, but by the dull color of its 
foliage. The fruit-bearing branches appear above those bearing the 
leaves, and the bush appears leafless towards the summit. The fruit of 
this, as well as that of the preceding, is sometimes called " Sugar 
Huckleberry." * 



4. V. corymbo'sum, L. Tall ; youpg' branches pubescent ; leaves 



HEATH FAillLY. 



211 



ovate, oval, oblong or elliptical-lanceolate, mostly entire ; racemes sliort, 
clustered on naked branchlets. 

Corymbose Yaccinifm. Swamp Blueberry. Tall Huckleberry. 

stem 5-8 or 10 feet high, often stout, with irregular straggling branches — the young 
leafing branches pubescent — the flower-bearing ones somewhat angular, naked and in- 
clining to a greenish bronze color. Leaves 1-2 inches long, generally elliptic, entire, and 
always with a short obtuse callous mucro, or point, at apex, pubescent when young, 
especially on the nerves and under surface, Anally smoothish ; petioles very short. Eace- 
mes half an inch to an inch long, 6-10 or 12-flowered, proceeding from lateral buds, and 
unaccompanied with leaves ; pedicels 1-fourth to 1-third of an inch long, with purplish bracts 
at base, which resemble bud-scales. Corolla white, mostly tinged with purple, nearly 
cyhudrical, somewhat contracted at the orifice, the lobes short and tooth-like. Berries 
rather large, black with a bluish bloom when mature, very agreeable to the taste. 

Swamps and moist woods : Canada to Georgia. Fl. May. Fr. July -August. 

Obs. This species presents several varieties, wbich have been consid- 
ered by some botanists as species differing chiefly in the pubescence of 
the leaf. One variety, var. atrocar'pum, Gray'^ has the leaves downy, 
even when old, and produces black berries without any bloom. Other 
species of Yaccinium besides those here enumerated are found in differ- 
ent portions of the country, but these are the most useful kinds, and 
descriptions of the others must be sought in works of a more extended 
Bcope than the present one. * 

3. ARCTOSTA'PHYLOS, Adans. Bearbeery. 

[Greek, Arktos, a bear, and Slapliyle, a grape.] 

Corolla ovate and urn-shaped, with a short, revolute, 5-toothed limb. 
Stamens 10, included ; anthers with two reflexed awns on the back near 
the apex, opening by terminal pores. Drupe berry-like, with 5 seed-like 
nutlets.^ Shrubs with alternate leaves and scaly-bracted nearly white 
flowers in terminal racemes or clusters. Fruit austere. 

1. A. TJva-ur'si, Spreng. Procumbent ; leaves obo- 
vate or spatulate, entire, thick, smooth, evergreen ; fruit 
red. 

Bearberry. Upland Cranberry. Uva-ursi. 

stems branched, trailing on the ground, the sterile branches often 2- 
3 feet long, the flowering ones shorter. Leaves about X of an inch 
long, variable in breadth, spreading or somewhat recurved. Flowers 
drooping ; corolla pale rose color, somewhat transparent at base, hairy 
inside. Fniit about the size of- a large pea, containing 5 closely-coher- 
ing, almost bony nutlets, surrounded by a mealy pulp. 

Xew Jersey, northward. Fl. May. Fr. August. 

Obs. The Bearberry is common in the Northern States 
on dry and barren hills, where its prostrate branches 
form dense mats. The leaves are used in medicine ; they are astrin- 
gent and tonic, and by some are considered to have an effect upon the 

Fig. 144 An enlarged anther of /he Bearberry (Arctostaphylos Uva-ursi) • each of the 
cods pro.Daged mto a tube with an orifice at the top for the escape of the pollen and fur- 
nished with an appendage. * 




212 



WEEDS AXD USEFUL PLANTS. 



urinary organs ; they are collected iu New England for the supply of 
the drug market. The plant is also found in the Korthern portions of 
the old world, and is used in Iceland to produce a brown or black dye. 
According to Dr. Toreey, the name Uva-ursi is in some places corrupt- 
ed into " Universe." * 

4. GAULTHE'RIA, Kalm. Checkeeberey. 

[Cedicated to Br. GauUhier, or Gautier, a French Botanist, of Quebec] 

Calyx 5-cleft, 2-bracteolate at base. Corolla cylindrical-ovoid or a lit- 
tle urn-shaped, 5-toothed. Stamens 10, included ; anther-cells each 2 
awned at summit, opening by a terminal pore. Capsule depressed-glo- 
bose, 5-celled, many-seeded, enclosed by the red herry-lilce calyx. Suf- 
fruticose humble evergreens ; flowers axillary, solitary. 

1, Gr. procim'bens, L. Stem creeping, root-like ; branches ascending, 
leafy at summit ; leaves cuneate-obovate, obscurely serrate j flowers few, 
nodding. 




Fig, 145. Tlie Checkerberry (Gaultberia procumbens). 146. A partially ripe fruit. 
147. A ripe fruit cut open, sbowing the dry capsule invested with the enlarged fleshy 
9alyi. 



HEATH FAMILY. 



213 



Peocumbext_ Gaui.theeia. Tea-berry. "W inter j^o-een. Checkerberry. 
Boxberry. Ivory Plum. Partridge-berry. 

stem slender, creeping on or near the surface of tlie ground ; Iranches simple, 3-5 in- 
ches high, naked below or with a few lance-ovate scales. Leaves few (4-6), an inch to 
an inch and a half in length, rather crowded ; petiole very short. Flowers white. 1-4 in 
the axils of the upper leaves, on recurved _pecHceZs }i - % an inch long ; fruit persistent. 

Canada to the mountains of CaroUna. Fl. July. Fr. Oct. 

Ohs. The number of popular names wbich have been given to this lit- 
tle plant, some of which are also bestowed on quite different plants, 
shows the necessity of a precise botanical nomenclature. The leaves are 
agreeably aromatic, and yield on distillation a very heavy volatile oil, — 
the Oil of Wintergreen of the shops, — which is largely used for flavoring 
confectionery, medicated syrups, &c. The fruit, which has the aromatic 
property in a much less degree, is pleasant and edible, and is often 
brought to the markets of our cities. The real nature of the fruit can 
be readily seen by dividing it lengthwise, when it will be found that the 
edible portion is the enlarged fleshy calyx, while the proper fruit, ?'. e., 
the ripened ovary, is enclosed within it. * 

5. ANDROM'EDA, L. Andromeda. 

[Xamed in allusion to the exposure of Andromeda ; from its place of growth.] 

Colyx 5-parted, persistent. Corolla hypogynous, tubular, companulate, 
or globose, — the limb 5-cleft. Stamens 10 ; anthers fixed near the mid- 
dle, the cells opeuing by a terminal pore. Capsule ovoid or subglobose, 
5-celled, many-seeded. 

1. A. Maria'na, L. Glabrous ; leaves oval, mostly acute at each end, 
very entire, sub-coriaceous, paler and puncticulate beneath, deciduous ; 
flowering branches nearly leafless ; pedicels fasciculate, bracteate ; calyx 
naked at base ; corolla ovoid-oblong ; capsule pyi-amidal. 
Maryland Andromeda. Stagger-bush. 

stem 2-3 or 4 feet high, with erect branches. Leaves 2-3 inches long ; petioles about 
one-fourth of an inch long. PZowct's in racemose fascicles on the old branches. Corolla 
white, or reddish-white. CapswZe pentangular-ovoid, truncate at apex. Seeds numerous, 
small^ clavate. 

Woodlands and sandy plains : New England to Florida. Fl. June. Fr. August- 
September. 

Obs. This shrub is very abundant in the sandy districts of New Jer- 
sey ; and the farmers, there, allege that it is injurious to sheep, when the 
leaves are eaten by them, — producing a disease called the staggers. I 
believe the evidence is not conclusive, on this point ; but it may be well 
to know the plant, against which such a charge is made. 

6. KAL'MIA, L. American Laurel. 

[Dedicated to Peter Ealm, — a Swedish Botanist.! 

Calyx 5-parted. Corolla between wheel-shaped and bell-shaped, 5-lobed, 
furnished with 10 depressions, in which the 10 obliquely bifid anthers are 



2li 



VrEEDS AXD USEFUL 



PLAXTS. 



severally held lentil tliey begin to shed their pollen. Capsule depressed- 
globose, 5-celled ; seeds numerous, minute. Evergreen shrvJjs ; leaves 
entire ; flowers in umbel-like corymbs. 

1. K. latifo'lia, L. Leaves mostly alternate, oval-lanceolate, bright 
green on both sides ; corymbs terminal. 

Broad-leaved Kalmia. Mountain Laurel. Calico Bush. Spoon- 
wood. 

St£m 3-10 feet liigh, witli irregular crooked straggling brauclies. Leaves sometimes in 
3's, 2-3 inches long and about an inch wide ; petioles >^ - ^£ of an inch in length. Flou-ers 
rather large, pale red (sometimes white), in spreading corymbs ; pedicels about an inch 
long, viscid pubescent, with 3 fcracte at base. 

Eocky hills : common. May -June. 

Ohs. This fine evergreen is common from Maine to the mountains of 
the Southern States, being conspicuous when in flower, and beautiful on 
account of its dark green foliage at all times. The wood is very hard, 
especially that of the root, and is used as a substitute for box by the 
turners and carvers in the making of small articles. The leaves have the 
reputation of being poisonous to cattle, but little is positively known of 
the effects of the plant upon the animal system. It is said to be easy of 
cultivation in moist soil, but the experiments which have fallen under 
our observation have not been very successful. ^ 

2. K. angustifo'lia, L. Leaves opposite and ternate, narrowly oblong, 
paler or slightly russet beneath ; corymbs lateral. 

Xakeow-leaved Laurel. Dwarf Laurel. Sheep Laurel. Lambkill. 

stem about 2 feet high, slender, somewhat branching. Leaves 1-2 inches long, and 
aboiit half an inch wide ; petioles % - % iiich in length. Flowers small, bright crim- 
son , in lateral corymbs in the axils of the ternate leaves and thus appearing verticillate ; 
pedicels filiform, - % of an inch in length, with 3 unequal bracts at base. 

liill-sides : common, June. 

Ohs. The leaves of this shrub are supposed to be poison§us to sheep 
and lambs, hence two of its popular names. The Azaleas, of which 
there are several native species, and which include some of our most 
beautiful exotic shrubs, belong here, but our space does not allow us to no- 
tice them. The Azalea nudifio'ra, L., or wild Honeysuckle, has often 
a singular transformation of its flowers, the parts of the flower becoming 
enlarged and fleshy and generally consolidated into a shapeless mass. 
These succulent excresences are much sought after by boys who call 
them " swamp apples " and " swamp cheeses" ; they at times are some- 
what sweetish, but to any but boys, rather poor fruit. Ehodoien'- 
dron maximilin, L., the Rose Bay or great laurel, belongs also to this 
section ; it is a noble evergreen shrub, but rather difficult of cultivation, 
unless sheltered from the powerful heat of our midsummer sun * 



HEATH FAMILY 



215 



7. CLE'THRA, L. Sweet Peppek-bush. 

\_Klethra, the Greek name lor the Alder, which it resembles.] 

Calyx of 5 sepals. Corolla of 5 obovate-oWong distinct petals. StO' 
mens 10, often exserted ; anthers inversely arrow-shaped, reflexed in the 
bud, opening by terminal pores or chinks Style slender, 3-cleft at th^ 
apex. Capsule 3-celled, 3-valved, enclosed by the calyx. Shrubs with 
alternate and deciduous leaves and white flowers in racemes. 

1. C. alnifo'lia, L. Leaves cuneate-obovate, acute, coarsely serrate, 
green on both sides ; racemes erect, mostly simple, bracteate, hoary- 
tomentose. 

Alder-leaved Clethra. White Alder. Sweet Pepper-bush. 

stem 3-10 feet high, branched. Leaves 2-3 inches long ; petioles K-K an inch in 
length. Racemes 3-6 inches long, sometimes with 2-3 branches from the base, bearing 
numerous fragrant flowers ; pedicels short, each with a lance-linear bract at base longer 
than itself. 

Wet thickets : Maine to Virginia. July- Aug. 

Obs. This charming shrub, which is not rare in wet places near the 
coast, deserves to be cultivated in every collection of shrubbery. It is 
highly prized in England, and were it an imported plant would doubtless 
be equally valued here. It grows freely in the garden, its spike-like ra- 
cemes increasing in size by cultivation. The flowers are exceedinglj 
fragrant, indeed oppressively so to some persons. Another species, C. 
aciimina'ta, Mx., which is a small tree with drooping racemes, is 
found in Virginia and southward. 

8. CHIMA'PHILA, Pursh. Pipsissewa. 

[Greek, Cheima, winter, and Philos, a lover ; from its green appearance in winter.] 

Calyx 5-cleft. Petals 5, orbicular, spreading, deciduous. Stamens 10, — 
2 in front of each petal ; filaments dilated and hairy in ,the middle ; an- 
thers 2-ceIled, opening by 2 pores. Ovary obtusely conic, or depressed- 
globose, umbilicate at apex ; style very short, immersed in the ovary ; 
stigma orbicular, peltate. Capsule depressed, obtusely pentagonal, 5- 
celled, 5-valved, loculicidal at base and apex. Seeds very minute, reticu- 
late-striate. Humble suffruticose evergreens. Peduncles terminal, some- 
what corymbose. 

1. C. umbella'ta, ^^utt. Leaves cuneate-oblong, acute at base, serrate, 
uniform-green ; flowers in a terminal subumbellate corymb. 
Umbellate Chimaphila. Pipsissewa. "Winter-green. 

Root creeping. Stem ascending, 3-0 inches long, leafy at summit. Leaves 1-2 inches 
long, subverticillate (often in 2-3 distinct verticils), coriaceous, glabrous. Corymb 4-6- 
flowered. Petals reddish-white. 

Hilly woodlands — ^particukirly of northern exposure : Northern and Middle States. FL 
June. Fr. Sept. 



Obs. This hau^^t^ubby little Evergreen possesses some astringency 



•216 



WEEDS AND USEFUL PLANTS 



and bitterness, so as to be moderately tonic,— though doubtless much 
over-rated in popular estimation. It has been so long and so generally 
noted, as an Indian medicine, under the name of Pipsnsewa, that every 
one who resides in the country ought to be able to identify it. 

Order XLIIL AQUIFOLIA'CEJS. (Holl^ Famili j 

Trees or shrubs with small axillary 4-5 mavous Jlmcers, a minute calyx free from the 4-6- 
celled ovary and the 4-6-seeded berry-like drupe. Stamens as many as the divisions of 
the almost or quite 4- 6-petalled coroZ?« and alternate with them, attached to their very 
base. CoroVa Imoricated it, the bud. Anthers opening lengthwise. Stigmas 4-6, or 
united into one, nearly sessile ; seed suspended and solitary in each cell. Albumen fleshy. 
Leaves simple, mostly alternate. Flowers white or greenish. 

1. I'LEX, L. Holly. 

[The ancient Latin name of the Holly-Oak ; applied here.] 

Flowers more or less diceciously polygamous, but many of them perfect; 
Calyx 4-6-tootlied. Petals 4-6, separate, or only united at the base, 
oval or obovate, obtuse, spreading. Stamens 4-6. The berry-like drupe 
containing 4-8 little nutlets. Leaves alternate. Fertile flowers inclined 
to be solitary, and the partly sterile flowers to be clustered in the axils. 
^ 1. Parts of the flowers commonly in fours, sometimes in fives or sixes, 
most of them perfect ; drupe red, its nutlets ribbed, veiny, or one-grooved 
on the back ; leaves coriaceous and evergreen. Aquifolium. 

1. I. opa'ca, -^^it' Leaves oval, the margins wavy and sharply spinose- 
dentate ; flowers scattered or loosely fasciculate along the base of the 
young branches and the axils. 
Opaque Ilex. American Holly. 

"Stem 15-40 feet high ; brar/:hes spreading. Leaves 2-3 inches long ; petioles X of an 
luoh in length. Flowers whitish, ochroleucous, small ; pedicels with minute bracts at base. 
Berries small, roundish ovoid, red when mature, persistent. 

Woodlands : Maino and southwards. June. 

Obs. This becomes a handsome little tree under cultivation ; it has 
less glossy foliage than the European Holly (1. aquifolium), which is in 
Europe considered to make the most durable hedge of any plant what- 
ever. Our own species might be advantageously used for hedges where 
the slow growth is not an objection. The seeds do not germinate until 
the second year after planting. The bright berries of the Holly, and its 
dark foliage, make it one of the most desirable evergreens for those who 
decorate their homes on Christmas. The wood is very compact and of 
fine texture, and is employed in the manufacture of whip handles, screws, 
and other small articles. The tree attains a much larger size ir the 
Southern States than it does at the North. Doct. Torrey informs ug 
that there were some years ago, at the Highlands of Neversinn.-, ITc.v 
Jersey, several trees of unusual dimensions, some of them being as large 
round as a man's body. The celebrated Paraguay Tea, or " Mate,' 
which is a substitute for both teo and cofF.^'3 to a large jroportion of the 



EBOIS^Y FAMILY. 



217 



inhabitants of South America, belongs to this genus. One of our own 
southern species, I. Cassi'ne, L., known as Yaupou, furnished the black 
drink of the North Carolina Indians. * 

§ 2. Parts of the sterile flowers in fours, Jives, or sixes; those of the fertile 
ficicers commonly in sixes (rarely in fives, sevens or eights) ; nutlets smooth 
and even. Shrubs. Prinos. 

2. I. verticilla'ta, Gray. Leaves obovate, oval or wedge-lanceolate, 
pointed, acute at the base, serrate, downy on the veins beneath ; flowers 
all very short-ped uncled ; berries red. 

YERTicnj^ATE Ilex. Black Alder. Winter-berry. 

stem 6-8 feet bigh, much braached. Leaves 2-3 inches long ; petioles about hah" an 
inch in length. Flowers greenish white, in sessile clusters or solitary. Berries about }^ 
of an inch in diameter. 

Low grounds : common especially northward. June. 

Obs. The bark and berries of this species have some medicinal reputa- 
tion as a cure for ill-conditioned sores — used both externally and inter- 
nally. Another nearly related species, I. Igeviga'ta, Gray, found in wot 
swamps, has the leaves mostly smooth beneath, the sterile flowers long- 
peduncled, and larger berries than the preceding. Both are sometimes 
seen cultivated among shrubbery, their red berries rendering them very 
showy in autumn. I. gla'bra, G'raz/, the Ink-berry, has evergreen, nar- 
row leaves, and black berries. It is mostly found near the coast, and is 
much sought after by the flower-merchants of our large cities, as it is 
one of the most suitable evergreens to work into bouquets. * 

Order XLIY. EBENA'CE^E. (Ebony Family.) 

Trees or shrubs, destitute of milky juice, the wood often black. Leaves alternate and entire, 
without stipules. Flowers often polygamous. Calyx free from the ovary. Stamens twice 
to four times as many as the lobes of the corolla. Ovary 3 - several-celled. Fruit bac- 
cate. Seeds pendulous, bony, with cartilaginous albumen. 

A small Order, and the genus here given is the only one of any considerable impor- 
tance, — some of the species of which furnish the well-known hard black wood called 
Ebony. 

1. DIOSPY'ROS, L. Persimmon. 

[Greek, Dis, Dios, Jupiter, and Pyros, fruit ; a rather fanciful name for such fruit.] 

DicECiousLY Polygamous : calyx 4 - 6-parted. Corolla tubular, some- 
what urceolate, 4- 6-cleft. Sterile Fl. Stamens twice or maay times 
(usually 4 times) as numerous as the lobes of the corolla ; anthers linear- 
lanceolate. Ovary abortive. Fertile Fl. Stamens 8-16, mostly 
abortive. Ovary 4-8-celled ; styles 2, 4, or several, more or less connate 
at base. Berry ovoid or subglobose, with the persistent ca]yx often 
adhering to the base, 8 - 12-seeded. Seeds oblong, compressed. Trees, 
or rarely shrubs. Flowers axillary, subsessile — the fertile ones solitary, 
the sterile ones mostly in threes. 

10 



218 WEEDS AND USEFUL PLANTS. 

1. D. Yirginia'na, L. Leaves elliptical or ovate-oblong, obtusely acu- 
,minate ; parts of the flower chiefly in fours ; corolla subcoriaceous. 
Virginian Diospyrcs. Persimmon. Date Plum. 
Fr. Le Plaqueminier. Germ. Der Pseudo-Lotus. 

stem 20-50 or 60 feet Wgli, and 10-15 or 20 inches in diameter, irregularly branched. 
Leav^ 2-3 or 5 inches long, subcoriaceous, green above, paler or somewhat glaucous 
beneath ; petioles half an inch to near an inch long. Calyx of the fertile flower spreading 
and persistent at the base of the fruit. Corolla ochroleucous or pale greenish-j^ellow, of a 
thick leathery texture. Berry about an inch in diameter, reddish-orange color wlien 
mature, soft and pulpy after frost. Seeds large, flattish. 

Rich bottom-lands, along streams : Middle and Southern States. Fl. June. F)\ Oct. - 
November. 

Obs. The ripe fruit of this tree is sweet and luscious, after being sub- 
jected to the action of frost ; but is remarkably harsh and astringent in 
a green state. The bark is astringent and tonic. The Sty rax Family 
(/,9(f2/rac«'c6<c,)isnearlyrelatedtotbeEbenace8e. It has perfect and regular 
flowers, with the ovary more or less adherent to the calyx. Several 
species of Styrax belong to the Southern States. The Hale'sia, or 
Silver Bell, two species of -which, one with 2-winged and the other with 
4-winged fruit, are common in cultivation, and belong to this order ; as 
does the Symplocos (Hopea) tincto'ria, the "Horse Sugar" of the South, 
the green sweet leaves of which being a favorite food of cattle. 

Order XLY. PLANT AGINA'CE^. (Plantain Family.^ 

Chiefly low, apparently stemless, perennial herbs, with radical, rosulate, strongly ribbed 
Imves and small spicate ^oi^ers on scapes. Corolla membranaceous and persistent. Stamens 
inserted on the tube of the corolla alternately with the lobes. Ova7-y 2-celled ; style single 
Capsule membranaceous, circumscissed ; cells 1 -several-seeded. 

An Order consisting chiefly of the genus whose name it bears, and the species hero 
described are those of chief interest to the agriculturist. 

1. PLANTA'GO, L. Plantain. 

[The ancient Latin name of the Plantain ; meaning obscure.] 

Calyx of 4 imbricated persistent sepals, with dry membranaceous margins. 
Corolla salver-form, the border 4-parted, withering on the pod. Stamens 
4, much exserted. Flowers whitish, small, bracted. 

* Pod 1-U-seeded. 

1. P. major, L. Leaves ovate or oval, smoothish, obscurely dentate, 
on long petioles ; scape terete, smooth ; spike nearly cylindrical, rather 
sleoder and very long ; flowers somewhat imbricated ; capsule about 
6-seeded. 

Greater Plantago. Common Plantain. Way-bread. 

Ft. Plantain ordinaire. Germ. Der grosse Wegetritt. Span. Llanten, 

Root perennial. Leaves 3-6 or 8 inches long, strongly 5-7-nerveil with an elastic 
filament in each nerve, generally smoothish (sometimes quite pilose), abruptly contracted 
at base to a channeled petiole about as long as the leaf. Scapes several, 6-18 inches high 



PLAXTAIX FAMILY. 



219 




(including the spike of flowers, whicli varies from 2-12 or 15 inches in Isngtb) . .Bradeoleg 
lanceolate, keeled, appressed, shorter than the calyx. Corolla whitish, inconspicuous^ 
ventricose below, contracted into a neck above, shrivelling and persistent. Stamens 
about twice as long as the corolla. 

Moist rich grounds, along foot-paths, &c. ; throughout the United States: introduced. 
Native of Europe and Japan. Fl. June - September. Fr. August - October. 

Obs. This foreigner is very generally naturalized ; and is remarkable 
for accompanying civilized man — growing along his footpaths, and 
flourishing around his settlements. It is said our Aborigines call it 
" the white man's foot," from this circumstance. Perhaps the generic 
name (Plantago) may be expressive of a similar idea — viz., Planta, the 



Fig. 148. Common Plantain (Plantago major), reduced. 



220 



WEEDS AND USEFUL PLANTS. 



sole of the foot, and ago, to act, or exercise. It is rather a worthless 
weed, but is not much inclined to spread, or be troublesome, on farm 
lands. The leaves are a convenient and popular dressing for blisters, 
and other sores ; a fact which seems to have been known in the time of 
Shakspeaee — as we may learn from his Romeo and Juliet, Act I, Sc. 2. 

" Eom. Your Plantain leafis excellent for tliat. 
" Ben. For what, I pray thee ? 
" Eom. For your broken shin." 

Pod 2-seeded. 

2. P. lanceola'ta, L. Leaves lanceolate, acute at each end ; scape 
sulcate-angled, long and slender ; spike ovoid-cylindric, short ; calyx 
deeply 3-parted ; capsule 2-seeded. 

Lanceolate Plantago. Ribgrass. English Plantain. Buckhorn Plan- 
tain. 

iSooi perennial. Leaves i - S or 10 inches long, hairy, narrowed gradually at base to a 
paJioZe 2-5 or 6 inches in length. Scapes several, 1-2 feet high, somewhat pilose with 
appressed hairs. .S^JiAre 1 - 2 inches long, at first ovoid-oblong, finally nearly cylindric, 
dense-flowered. Bracteoles ovate, acuminate, scarious on the margins and at apex — the 
slender point at length reflexed. Calyx deeply 3-parted (or rather of 3 sepals), the 
outer or lower segment or sepal oval, truncate, emarginate, with 2 green keel-like lines— 
the lateral segments or sepals rather longer, boat-shaped, acute, keel green, fringed with 
hairs near the apex. Corolla dirty white. Stamens several times longer than the corolla ; 
anthers greenish- white. Seeds oblong, convex on one side concave on the other, shining, 
brown or amber-colored. 

Pastures and upland meadows: introduced. Native of Europe. Fl. May -August. 
Fr. July -September. 

Obs. This species, also, is extensively naturalized, and is particularly 
abundant in upland meadows, or clover grounds. The seeds being nearly 
the same size and weight as those of the red clover, they cannot readily 
be separated — and thus the two plants are disseminated together, in the 
culture of clover. I^early all kinds of stock eat this Plaintain freely, and 
it has even been cultivated expressly for a Sheep-pasture ; but it is gene- 
rally much disliked, in Pennsylvania. I do not, however, perceive any 
mode of getting rid of it, or even of arresting its progress, unless it can 
be choked down by heavy crops of Clover and the valuable Grasses. 

Okder XLYL BIG^TONIA'CE^. (Bignonia Family.) 

Woody or sonaetimes herbaceous plants, with mostly opposite, simple or compound leaves' y 
and didynamous or diandrous f/jv;ers. Calyx 2-lipped or 5-cleft ; corolla tubular or bcll- 
Bhaped, 5-lobed, somewhat irregular and 2-lipped, deciduous ; ovai~y free, 2-celled by the 
projection of the placenta ; capsule coriaceous or woody, 2-valved, many-seeded ; seedi 
large, flat, often winged, destitute of albumen. 

Sub-order 1. Bignone^. 

Woody plants with 1 - 2-celled and 2-valved pods. Seeds flat and winged. 

1. TE'COMA, fuss. Trumpet-flower. 

[Xame abridged from the Mexican.] 

CalijX bell shaped, 5-toothed. Corolla funnel-form 5-lobed, a little irre- 



BIG^'OXIA 



LLT. 



221 



ffular. Stamens 4. Pod Ions: and carruTr. 2-celled. the partition contran 

r_ j^i _ 1 o.'Tj. j. ,„i„ — ; ,1 it'^^;!^ 



Seeds transversely winged. Woody vines 



ntrary 
s Vv'ith 



to the convex valves, 
compound leaves. 

I. T. radi'cans, 

Juss. Leaves pin- 
nate ; leaflets 5 - 

II, ovate, point- 
ed, toothed ; flovr- 
ers corymbed. 

EOOTIXG BlGXO- 

xiA. Trumpet 
creepcT. 

ro«: t- . ' jr.t 

4 incli'-: t.'tjcr- 
ing into apetiole which 
is often bordered on 
one or both sides by 
the decurrent lumi- 
nar, ribbed, smooth 
on the upper surface, 
pubescent along the 
ribs below. Flowers 
corymbed on pedicols 
about half an iiicli 
long. CoroZZc tubular, 
funuel-shap'A . some- 
what ventricose be- 
low, about 3 inches in 
length. Orange and 
scarlet, very showy. 
Stamens included. Pod 
very long, terete. 

Pennsylvania, Illi- 
uois and southward. 
June -September. 

Obs. This beau- 
tiful climber, 
which is cultiva- 
ted extensively, 
and readily bears 

the climate of Xew England, is, according to Dr. Short, a great pest 
along the Ohio River, where it is much disposed to overrun wet places 
" on high lands. 

2. CATAL'PA, Scop. Catalpa. 

[A name said to be derived from our Southern Indians.] 

Calyx bilabiately 2-lobed. Corolla campanulate — the tube ventricose, 
the limb unequally 5-lobed, sub-bilabiate. Stamens 2 fertile and 3 sterile 




Fig 149 A lowering branch of the Trumpet Creeper (Tecoma i-a licans) , reduced. 



222 



T^'EEDS AXD USEFUL PLA^^TS. 



or abortive (rarely didynamous). Capsule siliqne-form, cylindric, long, 
2-Talved; septum tliickish. opposite the ralvts. liiimerous. iruus- 

verse, compressed, produced at each end ini j a in-iiiibranous wing', which 
is fringed or comose at apex. Trees. Flowers in Tc-rmiiial panicles. 

1. C. biglionioi'des, Walt. Leaves cordate, acnminate. entire, pubes- 
cent beneath ; panicles j)yramidal, trichotomonsly branched. 
BiGXONiA-LiKE Gatalpa. Catawba. Bean-tree. 

Sfe??i 15-25 feet liigli, -witli irregular spreading branches. Leaves 4 - S or 10 inclies in 
length ; _pe(ioZes 2 - 6 inches long, terete, snioothish. CbroZZa whitish, tinged with violet 
purple, the thi'oat spotted with purple and yellow, the lohes unequal, crenate and wavy. 
Capsule 6-12 or 15 Laches long, and about half an inch in diameter, pendulous, persistent. 
Seeds lance-oblong, about hah an inch in length, apparently of 2 flat oval divaricate lobes, 
connate at base, with a membranous covering v.hich is extended at the margin, and 
especially at the apes, each apex terminating in a slender filamentous tuft or coma. 

About farm-houses and along streams : Southern. Western and iliddle States. Fl. June - 
July. Fr. October. 

Obs. CnltiYated as a shade tree, but indigenous m the South-west 
In the latitude of New York the larger branches, and frequently the ■ 
whole tree, are killed by a severe winter. 

Sub-order 2. Sesames. 

Herbs with the fruit more or less 5-ceIled. Se^ls not winged. 

3. MAETT'OTA, L. Uxicorx-plaxt. 

[Xamed in honor of JoJai Madyn. Prof, of Botany at Cambridge, England.] 

Calyx 5-cleft, with 2-3 small bracts at base. Corolla irregular, cam- 
panulate, gibbous at base, — the limb unequally 5-lobed. Stamens 
mostly 4, didynamous, with a fifth rudimentary one, — son"-;':"]: - 
sometimes 2 only, bearing anthers. Cflj;5u7e somewhat 4-cellc'' 
woody with a coriaceous and finally d:-?Mii' .us r-ror. riv-i.l-. _ - 
minating in a curved beak at apex. — ;'. ! : k i ir;:: . hr- _ : ■ : 
the capsule scarcely dehiscent. Sct.-s Uw in ..-ach cx-ii. arruh.-.-.i a 
single series along the septum, somewhat baccate, finally tubercular e- 
rugose. 

1. M. probosci'dea, Ghx. Stem branching ; leaves orbicular-cordate 
entire, petiolate, — the npper ones alternate ; beaks longer than the per 
icarp. 

LoxG-BEAKED Mat.iyxia. Unicom Plant. 

Plant pale green, viscid-pubescent and fetid, it^x/f annual. Stem leaning or procum 
bent, 1-2 feet long, branching, flstular. Leaves 2-5 inches ;:r._- : r-^c' T:- •2-'- ::::-:.:s 
long. Jlozi'er^ axillary ; pe^w7icZe5 1-3 inches long. Grrclla ]u: - - /. -v 

or ochroleucous, with orange-colored or brownish spots withi::. ' ■ . _ = 

somewhat suicate in front, with a bipartible crest-like fringe alo; i'-^'': ; ^: :;. i i^ . I r _ i 
shallow groove, tapering to a beak which is 2-3 or 4 inches long, and finally spht into two 
rigid horns, which are incurved like claws. 

South-western States : gardens: cultivated, i^. July- August. Pr. S?::t. -October. 

Obs. This plant — a native of the valley of the M'^-'^r.^ipi. and the 
plains of Mexico — is cultivated for its singular fruit — which, in it=! 



FIGYVOET FAillLT. 



22U 



young state— before it before it becomes liard and woody— is used for 
making pickles. 

4. ses'a:?j:um, i. bexne. 

Calyx 5-parted, the upper lobe smallest. Tube of corolla large, limb 
plicate somewhat bilabiate ; upper lobe emarginate, lower slightly 3-fid. 
Stamens 4, didynamous, with the rudiment of a tifth. Capsule oblong, 
obtusely 4-angled, 4-grooYed, 2-celled, 2-Yalved, valves recurved. Seeds 
numerous. Annual lierhs v,-ith the upper leaves often alternate-solitary 
and axillary flowers and oily seeds. 

1. S. In'digcm, DC. Stem erect pubescent; leaves ovate-oblong or 
lanceolate, the lower often 3-lobed ; capsule mucronate with the persis- 
tent style, velvety pubescent. 
Indian SESA^ruxr. Benne. Sesame. 

stem i~o feet high, branching. Leaves petioled, very variable in shape, those near the 
base of the stem often 3-t3J. Floicers on short peduncles, reddish vrhite. Fods about an 
inch and a half long, filled with seeds which are white, or in sonae varieties blacls on the 
margin. 

Native of India, cultivated. 

Obs. The Benne plant being a native of India, does not perfect its 
seeds in the northern States, but only succeeds in those climates in which 
the cotton plant can be cultivated. It is said that the plant was intro- 
duced by the negroes, who make use of the seeds as food. The seeds 
contain a large quantity of oil, which is obtained by expression in the 
same manner as Linseed oil ; it is bland and tasteless, and is used for the 
same purposes as Oiive oil, answering for cooking or for burning. The 
plant is cultivated in many warm countries for the sake of the oil. The 
leaves abound in mucilage which they readily impart to water ; one or 
two of them stirred in a half-pint of water will render it thick and 
ropy without atfecting its transparency. The plant is often raised at 
the north, from seeds brought from the south, for the leaves, the mu- 
cilaginous drink made from them being considered serviceable in the 
bowel complaints of children, though it probably possesses no advantage 
over that made from the bark of the Slippery EIra, or the Sassafras 
Pith. * 

Order XLYII. SCROPHULAEIA'CE^. (Figwort Family.) 

Herhs, shrubs or sometimes even trees with alternate, opposite or verticillate leaves with- 
out stipules, a persistent mZi/z of 4-5 more or less united sepals, and a more or less 
irregular, bilabiate or personate corolla, with the lobes imbricated in the bud. Stamens 
iAih^'V i and didynamous — the fifth stamen sometimes appearing in the form of a sterile 
filament, or very rarely antheriferous, — or often only 2 — one pair being either suppressed 
or reduced to sterile filameuts. Ovary -Z-celled, with the placentae united in the axis. 
Capsule 2-valved. Seeds indefinite, albuminous. 

An Order of nearly 159 genera, — affording many curious and rather handsome flow erg 
— some troublesome weeds — and a few plants of considerable medicinal powers — especial- 
ly tne purple Fox-glove (Digitalis pm'purea, L.). 
b 1. Upper hp of the corolla covering the lower in the bud. 
Corolla wheel-shaped 5-cleft, the lobes somewhat unequal. Stamens 

5 ; a part or all of the iilaments bearded. 1. Yerb^\scum. 



224 



WEEDS AXD USEFUL PLAXTS. 



Corolla tubular witli a spur at th.:; basa. Pol oponiug by holos. 2. Lixaria. 
Corolla tubular, not spurred. Calyx lobes thick aud leathery. 

Stamens 4. Trees. 3. Paulowxia. 
§ 2. Lower lip or the lateral lobes covering the upper lip in the bud. 
Corolla tubular, open ; the border slightly 5-lobed. Flowers in a 

long raceme. 4. Digitalis. 

Corolla wheel-shaped, 4 parted. Stamens 2. 5. Veronica. 

1. YEEBAS'OUM, L. Mullein. 

[Quasi Barhasaim ; Latin Barba, beard ; from its bearded or woolly habit.] 

Calyx 5-parted. Corolla witli a very short tube ; limb sub-rotate, 5-lobed 
— the lobes nearly equal or the front one larger. Stamens 5, unequal, 
inserted on the tube of the corolla, deciiuate, exserted, — the filaments 
(or some of them) bearded. Capsule ovoid or globose. Seeds numerous, 
rugose-pitted. Tall and usually woolly biennial herhs, with alternate 
leaves, those of the stem sessile or decurreut. Flowers in dense spikes, 
or paniculate racemes. 

1. V. Thap'sus, L. Stem simple, erect, tomeutose ; leaves oval-lanceo- 
late or olilong, very woolly on b3th sides, — the cauline ones decurrent ; 
flowers in a dense terminal spike ; 2 lower filaments smooth. 
Thapsus Yerbascum. Mullein. Common Mullein. 

Fr. Bouillon blanc. Germ. Das Wollkraut. Span. Gordolobo. 

Whole plant pale greyish-green or hoary tomentose, — the pubescence much branched. 
Stem 3-Q {Qet high, rather stout, leaf}^, rarely branching unless injured. Radical leaves 
6 -12 inches long, — the cauhue ones smaller. 5^ifee cylindric, 6-12 or 15 inches long; 
flowers bracteate. Corolla bright yellow. SLamsns unequal, — the two lower ones longer, 
with smooth filaments. 

Neglected fields; road-sides, &;c. : introduced. Native of Europe. Fl. June -July, 
Fr. August -September. 

06.5. This plant, although abundant in all the older settlements, is 
undoubtedly a naturalized foreigner. It is a worthless, unseemly intru- 
der, in our pastures and cultivated grounds. There is no surer evidence 
of a slovenly, negligent farmer, than to see his fields over-run with Mul- 
leins. As the plant produces a vast number of seeds, it can only be 
kept in subjection by a careful eradication while young — or at least be- 
fore the fruit is mature. When neglected, the soil soon becomes so full 
of seeds, that the young plants will be found springing up, in great 
numbers, for a long succession of years. 

2. V. Blatta'ria, L. Smoothish and green ; stem rather slender, often 
branched ; leaves oblong, serrate, not decurrent ; flowers racemose ; fila- 
ments all hairy. 

Moth YERBAscuii. Moth Mullein. 

tS'i'm 2-4 feet high, angular. Leaves 2-b inches long, — the fewer ones petiolate, often' 
sinuate pinnatifld, the upper ones sessile and clasping. Raceme 6-18 inches long, leafy or 
bracteate, glandular pubescent ; psiiceh % an inch to an inch in length ; flowers either 
bright yellow or white with a ting3 of purple. 

Pastures and road-sides. Native of Europe. June -August. 

Ohs. A common weed, though not so much of a nuisance as th'^ pre- 
ceding. Besides the two species described above, a third, V. Lychni'tis, 
L., or White ]\[ullein, is found in some localities It is a tall plant with 



FIGWOPtT FAMILY. 



225 



a thin, powdery woolliness and yellovN' (sometimes white) flowers, in a 
pyramidal panicle. It is said to hybridize or cross-breed with the com- 
mon Mullein, thus producing some remarkable varieties. 

2. LIXA'EIA, Tournef. Toad-flax. 

[Latin, Linum, flax ; from the resamblance of the leaves.] 

Calyx 5-parted. Corolla with the limb personate, the upper lip bifid 
with the lobes folded back — the lower lip trifid, closing the throat by 
its prominent palate ; tube inflated, spurred at base. Stamens 4, didyn- 
amous, — usually with a minute abortive rudiment of a fifth. Capsule 
ovoid or globose, membranaceous, 2-celIed, opening below the summit 
by 1 - 2 pores or chinks, toothed. Seeds numerous, margined. Mostly 
herbs, annual or perennial. Leaves alternate, rarely opposite or verti- 
cillate. Flowers usually racemose. 
1. L. vulgaris, MtU. Stem erect, simple ; 
leaves lance-linear, acute, alternate, numerous ; 
flowers imbricated, in a terminal raceme ; spur 
of the corolla acute, about as long as the tube. 
Common Lixarl^. Toad-flax. Ranstead-weed- 
Butter and Eggs. 

Fr. Muflier linaire. Germ. Das Flachskraut. 
Span. Linaria. 

Plant smooth and somewhat glaucous. i2oo< perennial, 
creeping, sub ligneous. Stem 1-2 or 3 feet high, slender, 
terete, leafy, sometimes branched at summit and bearing 
several racemes, generally growing in bunches or small 
patches. Leaves 1-2 inches long, narrow, irregularly sca.*- 
tered on the stem, but very numerous. Flowers peduncu- 
late, in a dense bracteate raceme — the peduncles shorter 
than the bracts. Corolla pale greenish-yellow, smooth, — 
the palate of the lower lip bright orange color, villous in 
the tliroat ; spur subulate, about half an inch long. Style 
short T than the longest stamens ; stigma obliquely trun- 
cLito. C'Tpsule ovoid oblong, thin, smooth, longer than the 
calyx. Seeds with a dilated orbicular margin, roughish- 
dotted in the centre. 

Pastures, fence-rows, &c. : introduced. Xative of Europe. 
Fl. June -September. Fr. August -October. 

Gbs. This is extensively naturalized, — and 
has become a vile nuisance in our pastures and 
upland meadows. Mr. AVatson', in his annals 
of Philadelphia, says it was introduced from 
Wales, as a garden flower, by a Mr. Eanstead, 
a Welsh resident of that city ; and hence one 
of its common names. It inclines to form large patches, by means of 
"its creeping roots, — and as far as it extends, takes almost exclusive pos- 




FiG. 150. Toad-flax (Linaria vulgaris). 

10^ 



226 



WEEDS AND USEFUL PLANTS. 



session of the soil. Although the flowers are somewhat show}^ it is a 
fetid, worthless and very objectionable weed, — the roots very tenacious 
of life — and requiring much persevering effort to extirpate them. The 
remarkable variety called Feloria- -with a regular 5-lobed ventricose 
corolla, 5 spurs, and 5 perfect stamens — is occasionally to be observed. 
Sometimes these Pelorias are tetramerous ; i. e. the corolla 4-lobed, with 
4 spurs, &c. They are frequently, if not always, late flowers,— situated 
at the summit of the raceme of full grown capsules, and apparently the 
latest floral developments of the plant. Two other European species 
are sparingly introduced, but they are fortunately not sufficiently dis- 
semmated to warrant their description here. 

3. PAULOW'NIA, Sieh. ^ Zucc. Paulownia. 

Calyx deeply 5-cleft, divisions thick. Corolla with an elongated de- 
clined tube and an oblique limb with 5 roundish divisions. Stamens 4, 
ascending from a declined base, without the rudiment of a fifth. Capsule 
woody, acuminate, loculicidally 2-valved. Seeds numerous, oblong, sur- 
rounded by a membranaceous wing, striate. — Trees with, the habit of 
Catalpa ; natives of Japan. 

1. P. imperia'lis, S:eb ^ Zucc. Leaves opposite, petioled, somewhat 
3-lobed or entire, broadly ovate cordate : panicle terminal large with 
many-flowered opposite branches. 
Imperial Paulownia. Paulownia. 

Tree with liorizontal tortuous branches. Leaves when young canescent hairy on both 
sides, when old on the under side only, with the upper surface finely pubescent, six 
inches to a foot in length, and on the young shoots even larger. Calyx divided below the 
middle, the lobes oblong obtuse, externally tomentose. Corolla 1}^ - 2 inches long, violet 
or rose color, dotted and streaked with brown and yellow within. Capsule an inch in 
length, 2-furrowed, persistent. 

Cultivated. i^Z. April -May. 

Obs. A tree of very rapid growth and having a strong resemblance to 
the Catalpa. The young trees are remarkably vigorous and bear leaves 
of an enormous size. It is a little too delicate for the climate of 
NewTork, for three years preceding the present (1858) the flower buds 
have been very generally killed by the severe winters. The capsules 
remain on the tree for a very long time and injur-e its appearance. * 

4. DIGITA'LIS, L. Foxglove. 

[From the Latin, Digitate, the finger of a glove ; from the shape of the flowers.] 

Calyx 5-parted. Corolla declined, tube ventricose above, contracted at' 
base, the limb oblique, upper lip emarginate, the lower 3-tid with the 
middle lobe the largest. Stamens 4, didynamous. Capsule ovate, with 
a septicidal dehiscence. Seeds numerous, minute, oblong, angled. Herbs 
with crowded, petioled radical leaves ; bearing showy j^ovj^r^ in a long 
raceme. 

1. D. purpu'rea, L, Biennial; lower leaves ovate or elliptic-oblong: 



FIGWOET FAMILY. 



227 



crenate, downy, on winged petioles, those of the stem alternate some- 
what decurrent ; raceme erect, one-sided, simple, of numerous drooping 
crimson or purplish flowers. 
PuHPLE Digitalis. Fox-glove. 

stem 3-4 feet liigh, angled, leafy below and terminated by the raceme. Leaves dull 
green, prominently nett^d-veined ; those of the stem gradually diminishing into bracts. 
Flowers, ■2,-2)4 inches long, within somewhat hairy and beautifully spotted with deep 
purple dots surrounded by white rings, or nodding, solitary, axillary peduncles. Cajpsult 
downy, tipped v/ith the persistent style. See'Is pale brown, pitted. 

Cultivated. Native of Europe. June -July. 

Obs. Common in gardens where it is prized for its showy flowers, and 
cultivated by the " Shakers" and others who raise medicinal plants for 
its leaves. The common name Fox-glove is said to be a corruption of 
the old Saxon name Folk's glove. Medicinally Fox-glove is classed 
with Tobacco, Lobelia and other acrid narcotics, and should only be 
employed under the direction of a medical adviser as it is dangerous in 
large doses. Though considerable quantities of the leaves are supplied 
to the drug market by the " physic gardens " of this country, they are 
considered greatly inferior to those produced by the plant growing in 
its native localities. * 

5. YERON'ICA, L. Speedwell. 

[Origin of the name obscure ; perhaps the flower of St. Veronica.] 

Calyx 4-parted. Corolla wheel-shaped or salver-shaped, the border un- 
equally 4-lobed, the lateral lobes, or the lower one, usually narrower. 
Stamens 2, one on each side of the upper lobe of the corolla, exserted ; 
anther-cells confluent at the apex. Capsule ovoid or obcordate and com 
pressed at the apex, 2-celled, few - many-seeded. 

1. V. peregri'na, L. Annual ; smooth ; lower leaves opposite peti- 
oled, toothed, the upper alternate, sessile and entire ; flowers subssessik 
in the axils of leaf-like bracts ; capsule orbicular, slightly notched. 
Foreign Yeronica. Purslane Speedwell. Neckweed. 

.Sfe?n3-8 inches high, often branched at base. Leaves half an inch to near an inch 
long, fleshy. Calyx lobes resembling the small upper leaves or bracts. Corolla whitish, 
small and soon fulling, the lobes nearly equal. 

Waste and cultivated grounds. April -June. 

Obs. A very common annual weed which has every appearance of an 
introduced stranger, though it is considered by most botanists as a nativo 
plant. It is widely different throughout the whole length of our conti- 
nent. It was at one time supposed to possess medicinal virtues in scrof- 
ulous aSections,— which acquired for it the name of '•' Neckweed." 
There are a number of native and introduced species belonging to this 
genus, but this is the only one sufficiently common, as a weed, to be 
noticed. 



228 



WEEDS AND USEFUL PLANT. . 



Okder XLYIII. YEBBENA'CE^. (Vervain Family.) 

Ilerl « (shrubs, and even trees within the tropics), having opposite leaves without stipules, 
and M tubular corolla with the hmb 4-5-lobed, more or less 2-lipped and didynamous 
stam'.ns. Ovary free, entire, 2-4-celled. Fruit dry (or sometimes drupaceous), and 
splitting into 2-4 indehiscent 1-seeded nutlets. Seeds with little or no albumen. 

An Order of but little importance to the farmer, — though containing a number of plants 
interesting to the florist. The tree which furnishes the " ever-during Teak^' of India 
(Tixtma grandis, L.) — so celebrated in ship-building — belongs to this 0''der. 

1. VERBE'NA, L. Yervalx. 

[The Liitin name for the leaves of any sacred herb ; etymology obscure.] 

Cohjx tubular, 5-tootliecl, — one of the teeth often shorter. Corolla tub- 
ular, somewhat salver-form, with the limb rather unequally 5-lobed. 
Stamens included, the upper pair usually Vt^ithout anthers. Ovary 2-4- 
celled, with 1 ovule in each cell. Fruit separable into 2 -4 nutlets. 
Flowers mostly in terminal spikes, bracteate. 

1 . V. urtkmfo'lia, L. Leaves ovate and lance-ovate, acute, serrate, pe- 
tiolate ; spikes filiform, terminal and axillary, somewhat paniculate ; 
flowers distant. 

Nettle-leaved Yerbena. Common Yervain. 

Jtoci perennial. Stem erect, 2-3 or 4 feet high, obtusely quadrangular, hirsutely pu- 
bescent, with slender axillary spreading branches above, iewes 2 - 4 inches long, ab- 
ruptly narrowed at base to a short petiole. Spikes 1 or 2-5 or 6 inches long, green, very 
Blender. Flowers distinct and finally a little distant, small, sessile, with a minute bract 
at base. Corolla white, — the throat closed by a dehcate white villus. Fniit separating 
into 4 nucules, which are oblong and triquetrous, with the outer side convex. 

Pastures, road-sides, &c. : throughout the United States. Fl. July -August. Fr. 
SeiTt.ember. 

Obs. This is not a very pernicious or troublesome weed ; but as it is 
altogether worthless, and often so abundant in pasture fields as neces- 
sarily to attract the notice of the observing farmer, I thought it might 
be admitted into the present work. 

V. officinalis, another introduced species with pinnatified or 3-cleft 
leaves and small purplish flowers is found in some localities. Tlie spe- 
cies of this genus are remarkable for their tendency to hybridize ; several 
of our native species produce hybrids spontaneously. Various crosses 
and varieties of Y. auble'tia, Y. cham^dripo'lia, and other species, are 
now among the most common and deservedly popular ornaments of the 
flower garden. The varieties are almost innumerable and are yearly in- 
creased by the florists. 

Order XLIX. LABIATE. (Mint Family.) 

Chiefly Jierhs with quadrangular stems, opposite or sometimes verticillate leaves without 
dipules, and flowers in axillary opposite cyumles or aggregated in terminal spikes, rarely 
solitary. Qrrolla more or less bilabiate. Stamens 4, didynamous, or sometimes 2 ; an- 
tlL&'-cells parallel, or often divaricate, — sometimes separated by a long filiform connective. 
Ovary deeply 4-lobed, becoming, in fruit, 4 little seed-like nutlets, surrounding the base of 
the style, in the bottom of the persistent calyx ; each lobe, or nutlet, containing a singla 
seed with little or no albumsn. Foliage containing receptacles of aromatic cril. 



MIXT FxiMlLY. 



229 



A highly interesting and valuable Order, containing upwards of 100 genera, and par- 
ticularly remarkable for the aromatic fragrance, and stomachic properties, of many of 
the species. The most important, however, — being generally cultivated, — are hero in 
serted. 

o Stamens 4. the lower pair longer, dechned so as to rest on the lower lip of the corolla. 

Flowers in racemes, white ; upper lobe of calyx broad, orbicular- 
ovate. Leaves ovate. 1. Ocnirai. 

Flowers in terminal pedvmcled spikes, pale blue ; calyx 5-toothed ; 
leaves narrow, hoary. 2. Lavakdci^ 

** Stamens 4 or 2, not turned down. 

Corolla almost equally 4-lob'^^l Stamens 4, nearly equal. 3. Mentha. 

Corolla manifestly 2-lipped. t^tamens 2, or only 2 with anthers. 

Upper lip nearly flat or spreading, 2-lobed at the end. Throat of 

calyx bearded. Sterile filaments 2. 4. Hedeoma. 

Upper lip arched, entire or slightly notched, holding the stamens. 
Calyx equally o-toothed. Flowers in close and leafj^-bracted 

heads. 5. Monakda. 

Calyx 2-lipped. Anthers with one cell at the end of a long 
connective astride the end of the filament. 6. Salvia. 

Corolla 2-lipped. Stamens 4, all with anthers. 

Upper and inner pair of stamens longer than the lower or outer 

pair ; all ascending under the upper lip. ' 7. Nefeta. 

Upper and inner pair of stamens shorter than the lower pair. 
Upper hp of the corolla flat and open, or barely concave. 

Stamens distant or diverging, not approaching the upper 
lip. 

Calyx tubular, equally 5-toothed, 15-nerved. Sta- 
mens long. 8. Hyssofus 

Calyx 10-13-nerved, ovate, bell-shaped or short- 
tubular. 

Calyx naked in the throat. Flowers clustered in 

the axils or spiked. 9. Satureja. 

Calyx hairy in the throat. 

Flowers spiked , and with large colored bracts. 10. Origanum, 
Flowers loosely clustered ; bracts minute. 11. Thymus. 
Stamens with their anthers approaching in pairs under 
the upper hp. 

Calj^x tubular, bell-shaped and 2-hpped. Corolla 
curved upwards. Flowers few in loose clusters. 12. Meussa. 
Upper lip of the corolla arched or hood-like. 

Calyx 2-lipped, closed over the fruit and very veiny ; the 

13. Bruxella. 



14. Marrubium, 



lips toothed. 

Calyx not 2-lipped, 10-toothed. Clusters axiUary, head- 
like. 

Calyx not 2-lipped and only 5-toothed, bell-shaped or top- 
shaped, much shorter than the corolla. 
Corolla enlarged in the throat. Calyx-teeth not spiny. 15. Lajoum. 
Corolla not enlarged in the throat. Calyx top-shaped 
with spiny teeth. 16. Leon-urus. 

*** Stamens 4, ascending, and projecting from the upper side of the 
corolla. 

Corolla cleft down the upper side, the lower lobe much larger than the 
other 4. Flowers purplish, rarely white, in a spike ; akenes veiny. 17. Teucrium. 



1. O'CIMUM, L. Sweet-basil. 

[Supposed from the Greek, O20, to smell ; in reference to its fragrance.] 

Calyx 5-cleft, — the upper segment dilated, orbicular-ovate. Corolla with 
the upper lip 4-cleft, — the lower lip scarcely longer, declined, entire, flat- 
tish. Stamens 4, declinate, the lower pair longer, — the upper filaments 
often toothed at base. Nutlets ovoid, often minutely punctate. Flovj- 
€rs in terminal interrupted racemes. 



230 



WEEDS AND USEFUL PLANTS. 



I. 0. basil'icum, L. Leaves ovate-oblong, subdentate, smootli, with 
ciliate petioles ; calyx reflexed after flowering. 

EoYAL OciMUM. Sweet Basil. 

Fr. Basilic. Germ. Gemeines Basilienkraut. Span. Alb abaca. 

Root annual. Stem 6-12 inches higla, often mncli branched, smoothish at base, pubes- 
cent above with short reflexed hairs. Leaves half an inch to an inch long ; pdiMes one- 
third to two-thirds of an inch long. Bracts ovate, acuminate, petiolate, ciliate. Calyx in- 
flated-campanulate. CoroUa whitish or bluish-white. 

Gardens : cultivated. Native of India. Fl. 3\i\j. Fr. September. 

Obs. Tbis fragrant little plant is one of tbe numerous kitcben-garden 
berbs, usually cultivated for culinary purposes. 

2. LAYAN'DULA, i. Lavender. 

[Latin, Javare, to wash, — the distilled water being used for that purpose.] 

Calyx tubular, ovoid-cj^lindric, ribbed, witb 5 sbort teetb, tbe upper one 
sometimes dilated and produced at apex. Corolla with tbe upper lip 2- 
iobed, and tbe lower one 3-lobed ; lobes all nearly equal, spreading. 
Stamens 4, included ; filaments smootb, not tootbed. Akenes smootb 
and even, adnate to 4 flesby scales on tbe margin of tbe disk. Peren- 
nial herbs, or suffruticose plants, — tbe stems leafy near tbe base, but often 
naked below tbe spike. Floivers in terminal spikes. 
1. L. ve'ra, -DC. Leaves boary, lance-linear, entire, revolute on tbe 
margin ; spikes interrupted. 
True Lavandula. Lavender. Garden Lavender. 
Fr. La Lavande. Germ. Der Lavandel. Span. Espliego. 

Plant clothed with a short hoary tomentum. Stem suffruticose, branching from tho 
base ; branches erect, 12-28 inches high. Leaves 1-2 inches long, crowded near the base 
of the branches, — often with fascicles of young leaves in the axils. Flowers in a terminal 
imbricated spike about an inch in length, with 1-2 distant cymules below. Corolla blue, 
pubescent, nearly twice as long as the calyx: 

Gardens : cultivated. Native of Southern Europe and shores of the Mediterranean. 
Fl. July. Fr. September. 

Obs. Tbe compound tincture of tbe flowers of this herb (or, as the 
good ladies term it, " Lavender Compound" — ) is deservedly popular, for 
its cordial and stomachic properties. The distilled water is also highly 
esteemed for its pungent and grateful fragrance. The dried flowers are 
used to fill scent bags to lay in drawers witb linen, and the oil distilled 
from them is much used in tbe manufacture of perfumery. 

3. MENTHA, L. Mint. 

[From Minllie, a ujanph ; fabled to have been changed into this plant.] 

CalijX campanulate or tubular, 5-toothed, equal or nearly so. Corolla 
with a short included tube ; the border nearly equally 4-cleft, — the up- 
per lobe broader and usually emarginate. Stamens 4, nearly equal, erect, 
distant ; filaments glabrous, naked ; anthers with 2 parallel cells. Pe- 



MIXT FAMILY. 



231 



rcnnials, with spreading root-stocks and cymules (in the species mentioned 
here) in terminal spikes. 

1. M. vir'idis, L. Stem erect ; leaves oblong-lanceolate, subsessile ; 
spikes terete, slender, elongated, tapering at summit, — the cymules 
mostly distant. 

Green Mextha. Spear-mint. Common Mint. 

Fr. Baume verte. Germ. Die Spitzmuenze. Span. Menta puntiaguda. 

Plant smoothish aad rather pale green. Stem 1-2 feet high, branching. Leaves 1 - 2 or 
3 inches long, verj' acute, incised serrate. Spikes of cymules, often numerous, 2-4 inches 
long. Corolla pale purple. 

Jloist grounds, v/aste places, &c. : introduced. Native of Europe. Fl. July -August. 
Fr. September. 

Obs. This pleasantly aromatic herb has been so generally introduced 
into all the older settlements of this country, that it is now very exten- 
sively naturalized. It is deservedly popular as a domestic medicine, in 
relieving nausea, &c., and it is the species employed in preparing that 
most seductive beverage, known as " Mint Julep." 

2. M. piperi'ta, L. Leaves ovate-lanceolate, petiolate ; spikes cylindrir 
rather short, obtuse, — the cymules loosely approximated. 

Peppery Mentha. Pepper-mint. 

Fr. La Menthe. Germ. Pfeffer-muenze. Span. Menta piperita. 

Plant smoothish and purplish. Stem 1-2 feet long, branching. Leaves 1-2 inches 
long, more or less ovate and rounded at base, dark green, on petioles one-fourth to half an 
inch in length, rather acute, serrate. Spikes of cymules half an inch to an inch or more 
\a length, terminal, solitary, — the cymules crowded, — except the lower pair which are 
often a little distant. Corolla purple, larger than in the preceding species. 

Moist low grounds, gardens, kc. : introduced. Native of Europe. Fl. August. Fr. 
Sept. -October. 

Obs. This most grateful aromatic is generally allowed a place in gar- 
dens, or about houses, — and is apparently naturalized in many localities. 
The essential, oil, and distilled water, are well known for their stomachic 
properties, and deservedly held in high esteem. 

The plant is largely cultivated, especially in the State of New- York, 
for the manufacture of the Oil of Peppermint, of which great quantities 
are consumed by confectioners in flavoring candies, lozenges, &c., and by 
druggists and liquor-dealers in preparing essences, cordials and the like. 
Essence of Peppermint, a popular aromatic remedy for pains in the 
stomach, &c., is a solution of the oil in alcohol, of a strength corres- 
ponding to the price at which it is sold. Besides the species mentioned, 
there is another foreign one sparingly naturalized around old settlements 
in Ohio and Pennsylvania, the Corn-mint, (M. arven'sis, L.,) which has 
axillary cymules, and the stem hairy downwards ; its odor is remarkable, 
and has been compared to that of decaying cheese. A native species, 
M, Canaden'sis, L., is common in wet grounds ; it has an odor much 
Uke that of Pennyroyal. ^ 



232 



WEEDS AND USEFUL PLA]SrTS. 



4. HEDEO'MA, Pers. Pennyroyal. 

[Greek, Hedeia Osme, a pleasant oclor ; from its fragrance.]. 

Calyx ovoid-tubular, gibbous on the uDcler side near the base, 13-nerved, 
bilabiate, — the upper lip 3-toothed — lower one bifid ; throat villous. 
Corolla bilabiate, — the upper lip erect, flat— lower lip spreading, 3-lobed, 
lobes nearly equal. Stamens 2, ascending, the two upper entirely want- 
ing, — or rudimentary and sterile. Hcrhs with small leaves and loose ax- 
illary clusters of flowers, often forming terminal leafy racemes. 
1. H. pulegioi'des, Pers. Leaves lance-ovate, rather obtuse, subserrate, 
narrowed at base, petiolate ; cj mules about 3-flowered. 
PuLEGiuM-LiKE Hedeoma. Americau-Fennyroyal. 

Root annual. Steyn 6-12 inches liigli, hoary-pubescent, branched. Leaves half an inch 
to an inch long, slightly pubescent, narrowed at base to a pubescent petiole one-eighth to 
half an inch in length, — Vm floral leaves resembhng the cauline ones. Cyjnules usually 
S-flowered ; hradeoles linear-lanceolate, scarcely as long as the pedicels. Corolla pale 
blue, with purple spots. Stamens scarcely exserted, ascending, the anthers approximated 
under the upper lip, — the upper pair of stamens reduced to mere abortive rudiments. 

Slaty soils, old lields, &c. : throughout the United States. Fl. July -August. Fr. 
September. 

Obs. A warmly aromatic little herb, — in general use as a popular dia- 
phoretic, carminative, &c., and therefore entitled to a description by 
which it may be certainly recognized. This is not the " Pennyroyal" of 
Europe ; but has been so called because of its resemblance to that 
plant, — which is a species of Mint — viz., the Mentha Pulegium, L. 

5. MONAE'DA, L. Horse-mint. 

[Dedicated to Nicholas Monardez, a Spanish Botanist.] 

Calyx tubular, elongated, 15-uerved, nearly equally 5-toothed ; throat 
usually hairy. Corolla with a slightly expanded throat, and a strong- 
ly 2-lipped limb ; upper Up entire, or slightly notched, erect, embracing 
the filaments ; lower lip spreading, 3-lobed, the middle lobe narrowest 
and slightly notched. Stamens 2, elongated, ascending, inserted in the 
throat of the corolla ; anthers linear, the divaricate cells confluent at 
the junction. Flowers large in a few whorled heads closely surrounded 
with bracts. 

1. M. did'yma, L. Leaves ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, mostly rounded 
or somewhat heart-shaped at base, the floral ones and large exterior 
bracts purplish ; calyx smooth, incurved, nearly naked in the throat ; 
corolla smooth, much elongated, bright red ; stamens exserted beyond 
the acute upper lip of the corolla. 
Oswego Tea. Bee Balm. 

.2?ooi perennial. <Stem. 1-2 feet high, 4-angled, branching, semewhat hairy. Leaves 6- 
5 inches long and 1-2 inches wide, somewhat hairy on both sides, especially on the vem? 
below ; petioles half an inch long. Floiaers in 1-2 (rarely 3) whorls ; corolla an inch anC 
a half long. 

New England West and South. July -August. 



5nXT FAMILY. 



233 



Obs. A very showy plant, often found in fertile soil along streams, 
aud very common in gardens. 

2. M. puncta'ta, L. Leaves lanceolate, narrowed at base ; bracts lan- 
ceolate, obtuse at base, yellowish and purple ; calyx pubescent, with 
short rigid teeth ; corolla nearly smooth, yellowish, the upper lip spot- 
ted ; stamens not exceeding the upper lip of the corolla. 

Horse-mint. 

Eoof perennial or biennial? Stem 2-3 feot high, obtusely 4-angled, whitish downv. 
Floicers in several whorls : calyx somewhat curved with a short beard in the throat. 
Sand J- fields New York and Southward. August - September. 

Obs. This very odorous and pungent plant abounds in a volatile oil, 
and possesses stimulant qualities which give it a place among the do- 
mestic remedies, it being used in cholics, <tc. The oil which the plant 
affords by distillation is one of the most powerful, of its class, and is 
used as an external application in rheumatism, &c. It should be used 
with caution, as it in some persons blisters the skin. In some parts of 
the South the plant is incorrectly called Origanum," which has been 
corrupted into Eignum," * 

6. SAL'YIA, L. Sage. 

[Latin, salvare, to save ; on account of supposed medicinal virtues.] 

Calyx subcampanulate, bilabiate, — the upper lip mostly 3-toothed — the 
lower one bifid ; throat naked. Corolla ringent, — the upper lip erect, 
straight, or falcate. Stamens 2 ; anthers halved, — the cells separated by 
the long linear connective, which is transversely articulated with the fila- 
ment. Flowers mostly large and showy, in spiked racemed or panicled 
whorls. 

1. S. officixa'lis, X. Stem shrubby at base, leafy, hoary-tomentose ; 
leaves lance-oblong, crenulate, rugose ; upper lip of the corolla as long 
as the lower one, somewhat vaulted. (See figs. 152 and 153.) 
Officinal Salvia. Sage. Garden Sage. 
Fr. La Sauge. Germ. Die Saibei. Span. Salvia. 

iJooi perennial. Steins 1-2 feet high, growing in bunches, branching from the base. 
Leaves 1-2 or 3 inches long, rather obtuse, sometimes lobod near the base, clothed with 
a short pubescence, greyish green, — the upper or floral leaves sessile — the others on 
petioles about an inch long. Cymules 5-10-flowered, in interrupted terminal racemes. 
Corolla mostly violct-purple. 

Gardens : cultivated. Native of .Southern Europe. Fl. May -June. Fr. July - August. 

Obs. Generally cultivated in kitchen gardens, for culinary purposes. 
The infusion makes a good gargle, and is otherwise moderately medicinal 
The plant would seem to have been once considered as a kind of pan- 
acea, if we may judge from the following monkish lines : 

" Cur moriatur homo cui Saida crescit in horto ? 
Contra vim mortis non est medicamen in hortis. 
Salvia salvatrix, Xaturee conciliatrix. 
Salvia cum Ruta faciimt tibi pocula tuta." 



234 



WEEDS A2\B USEFUL PLANTS. 



There is now, however, but little confidence placed in the virtues thus 
imputed or implied ; and in these temperance times, the doctrine of the 
concluding line would be denounced as rank heresy, — even though the 
charm be fortified " with Rue," — that " herb of grace o' Sundays," as 
Shakspeare terms it — which is here appropriately enough associated 
with an indulgence in cups ! We often find, on dry sterile meadow 
banks, a native species of this genus (S. lyra'ta, L.), which is a mere 
weed, but scarcely of sufficient importance to require a description here. 
Several tropical species are cultivated in gardens and green-houses ; 
some of which have the calyx, as well as the corolla, highly colored, 
and are very showy. 

7. NE'PETA, X. Catnip. 

[Supxwsed to b3 named from JVepde, — a tovra in Italy.] 

Calyx tubular, sometimes ovoid, about 15-nerved, obliquely 5-toothed. 
Corolla bilabiate, — the upper lip erect, somewhat concave, emarginate 
or bifid — the lower lip spreading, 3 lobed, middle lobe largest ; throat 
dilated. Stamens 4, ascending, — the lower pair shorter ; anthers mostly 
approximated in pairs, 2-celled ; cells diverging, finally divaricate. Pe- 
rennial herbs. 

1. N. Cata'ria, L. Hoary-pubescent ; stem erect, tall ; leaves oblong- 
cordate, acute, coarsely crenate-serrate, upper floral ones small and 
bract-like ; cymules densely many-flowered, the upper ones crowded in a 
spike — the lower ones distant ; calyx ovoid-tubular ; corolla one half 
longer than tne calyx. 

Cat Is'epeta. Cat-mint. Catnip. 

Fr^ Herbe aux Chats. Germ. Die Katzen muenze. Span. Gatera. 

2 - 3 feet higb, mostly several from the same root, somewhat branched. Leaves 
2-3 or 4 inches long, green above ; canescent beneath ; petioles half an inch to an inch 
and a half in length. Cymules on short common peduncles, in interrupted terminal 
spikes ; bracteoles lance linear, a little longer than the pedicels. Corolla ochroleucous, v,ith 
a reddish tinge and purple dots, pubescent ; upper hp emarginately bitid, the lower one 
crenate dentate, villous at base. 

Fence-rows, fields, and waste places : introduced. Native of Europe. Fl. June -Aug. 
Fr. July -September. 

Obs. This foreigner is so extensively naturalized as to be a, rather 
troublesome weed. The dried herb, in infusion, is a highly popular 
medicine among the good ladies who deal in simples, — and is probably 
often useful. But, as a weed on the farm, it is objectionable, and, when 
permitted to multiply, gives to the premises a very slovenly appearance. 

2. N. Glecho'ma, Benth. Stem procumbent, radicating at base ; leaves 
cordate-reuiform, rounded, crenate, all alike ; cymules few-flowered, — 
all distant, axillary ; calyx tubular ; corolla nearly three times as long 
as the calyx. 

Groand Ivy. Ale-hoof. Gill. 

Ir. Lierre terrestre. Germ. Die Gundelrebe. Span. Yedra terrestre. 



MIXT FAMILY. 



235 



stem 6-18 Inches long, slender and prostrate,— the flowering branches erect or ascend- 
ing, 4-8 or 10 inches high, retrorsely pubescent. Leaves three-fourths of an inch to an 
inch and a half long, and rather wider than long ; petioles 1 - 3 inches long. Cymules all dis- 
tant ; hradeoles minute, subulate and ciliate. Corolla blue or purphsh-blue (rarely white), 
pilose— the upper lip bifid. Antliers approximated in pairs, — the cells diverging and 
presenting the figure of a cross. 

Fence-rows and moist shaded places : introduced. Native of Europe and Northern 
Asia. i^L May -June. J'r. July. 

Ohs. Katuralized about many settlements, and being a mere weed, is 
often inconveniently abmidant. " The herb was employed in England to 
clarify and give a flavor to ale (whence one of its common names), until 
the reign of Henry YIII., at which period hops were substituted. The 
iafasion of the herb is a popular medicine, — ^like that of the preceding 
species. 

8. HYSSOTUS, L. Hyssop. 

[Latinized from Ezol, — an ancient Hebrew name.] 

Calyx tubular, 15-nerved, equally 5-toothed ; throat naked. Corolla bi- 
labiate, — the upper lip erect, flat, emarginate — the lower lip spreading, 
3-lobed, middle lobe larger, bifid. Stamens 4, exserted, diverging, the 
lower pair longer ; anthers 2-celled, — the cells linear, divaricate. 
1. H. officina'lis, L. Leaves linear-lanceolate, rather acute, entire, 
Bsssile ; cymules secund, racemose, — the upper ones approximate. 
Officinal Hyssopus. Hyssop. Garden Hyssop. 
Fr. Hysope. Germ. Der Isop. Span. Hisopo. 

Root perennial. Stem 18 inches to 2 or 3 feet high, subterete, shrubby at base and much 
branched. Leaves three-fourths of an inch to an inch and a half long. Cymules rather 
crowded in a one-sided terminal raceme or spike, with a few distant ones below. Corolla 
bright blue, or sometimes purplish. 

Gardens : cultivated. Native of Southern Europe and Asia. Fl. July -Aug. Fr. Sept. 

Ohs. Cultivated as a medicinal herb. The infusion has long been a 
popular febrifuge. The Dittany (Cunila Maria'na, -L.)— which belongs 
to this tribe — is also a well-known article in the popular Materia Med- 
ica ; but as it grows wild, and is usually confined to dry hilly woodlands, 
it is scarcely entitled to a place among agricultural plants. 

9. SATURE'JA, L. Summer Savory. 

[The ancient Latin name.] 

Calyx tubular-campanulate, 10-nerved, deeply and nearly equally 5- 
toothed, or obscurely bilabiate ; throat naked, or nearly so. Corolla 
bilabiate, — the upper lip erect, flat — the lower one spreading, 3-lobed, 
lobes nearly ecjual. Stamens 5, diverging. Herbs with small entire 
leaves, often fasciculate in the axils, and somewhat spiked, purplish 
flowers. 

1. S. hoeten'sis, L. Stem erect, much branched, pubescent ; leaves 
oblong-linear, acute ; cymules axillary, pedunculate, few-flowered, some- 
what secund, remote or the upper ones somewhat spiked. 



236 



WEEDS AND USEFUL PLANTS. 



Garden Satureja. Summer Savory. 

Fr. La Sarriette. Germ. Die Saturey. Span. Ajedrea. 

Root annual. Stem 6-12 inches high, obscurely 4-angled, branched so as to app-r^f 
bush}^, roughish-pubesceut, mostly dark ijurple. Leaves half an inch to an inch long, 
narrowed at base to a very short petiole. Cymules about 3 -flowered — the upper ones 
crowded into a leafy spike. Corolla pale violet-purple, somewhat pubescent, scarcely 
longer than the hispid-ciliate calyx-teeth. 

Gardens : cultivated. Native of Southern Europe. JPZ. July -August. i^V. September 

Ohs. Cultivated as a culinary herb. 

10. ORIG'ANUM, L. " Marjoram. 

[Greek, Oros^ a mountain, and Ganos, delight ; in allusion to its native localit3^] 

Calyx ovoid bell-shaped, hairy in the throat, 5-toothed or bilabiate with 
the upper Up entire or 3-toothed, the lower lip 2-toothed, truncate or 
wanting. Corolla 2-lipped ; upper Up emarginate ; lower Up longer, 3- 
lobed and spreading. Stamens 4, exserted, diverging. Annuals or peren- 
nials with nearly entire leaves and flowers in dense corymbose clusters or 
oblong spikes, imbricated with colored bracts. 

1. 0. Marjora'na, L. Somewhat branched ; leaves elliptic-obovate, 
downy and canescent on both sides ; spikelets oblong, clustered at the 
ends of the branches. 
Sweet Marjoram. 

Fr. La Marjolaine. Germ. Der Majoran. Span. Majorana. 

Root annual. Stem 9-18 inches high, subterete. Leaves one third of an inch to an inch 
long, varying from ovate to obovate and spatulate. Spikelets one fourth to half an inch 
long, obtusely 4-cornered, hoary-pubescent, in sessile terminal clusters of threes, or on 
short axillary branches ; bracts very obtuse or rounded, ciliate-pubescent, quadrifariously 
and densely imbricated, the margins at base involute. Calm with the upper lip free, 
like a distinct sepal, dilated, obtuse, ciliate-pilose and mostly 3-toothed at apex, narrowed 
below with the margins folded in, the lower hp or diAision ovate, smooth, very small. 
Corolla white or tinged with purple. 

Gardens: cultivated. Native of Africa and Asia. Fl.Jn\y-Ang. Fr. September. 

Obs. One of the fragrant culinary herbs, generally cultivated. 
11. THY'MUS, L. Thyi,ie. 

[The ancient Greek name ; from TJiyo, to burn perfume.] 

Calyx ovoid-tubular, 10-13 nerved, bilabiate, — the upper lip trifid — 
the lower one bifid ; throat villous. Corolla with the upper lip erect, 
nearly flat, emarginate, — the lower lip spreading, 3-lobed, middle lobe 
longer. Stamens 4, exserted, diverging. Humble shrubby or suffruticose 
perennials, with small and entire strongly veined leaves and purphsh or 
whitish flowers. 

1. T. vulga'ris, L. Stems erect or procumbent at base ; leaves oblong- 
ovate or lance-ovate, revolute on the margin ; cymules in terminal inter* 
rupted leafy spikes. 

Common Thymus. Garden Thyme. Standing: Thjme. 



MIXT FAMILY. 



237 



Fr. Serpolet. Germ. Der Thymian. Span. Tomillo. 

5^eni? 4-6 inches high, numerous, slender, rather erect, much branched and matted 
together at base, sutfruticose , clothed with a short cinereous pubescence. Leaves one 
fourth to half an' inch long, abruptly narrowed to a petiole, punctate, slightly pubescent 
beneath, fasciculate in the axils bv reas.n of abortive branches. CaZya; hirsute, strongly 
ribbed, punctate ; segments of the lo-n er lip subulate, pectinately ciliate. Corolla pale 
purple. 

Gardens : cultivated. Xative of Southern Europe. Fl. Jane -August. Fr. August - 
September. 

Ohs. A favorite concliment in calinary processes, — and generally cul- 
tivated in kitchen gardens. The creeping Thyme {T. Serpijl'lum, L.) — ■ 
a species nearly allied in properties and appearance — is naturalized in. 
many places. 

12. MELIS'SA, L. Balm. 

[Greelc, Melissa, the honey-bee ; the flowers being a favorite of that insect.] 

Calyx tubular, 13-nerved, bilabiate, — the upper lip mostly spreading, *3- 
toothed — the lower one bifid. Corolla bilabiate, with a recurved ascend- 
ing tube, dilated above. Stamens 4, conniving under the upper hp ; anthers 
2-celled ; cells distinct, parallel, finely diverging. Perennial herbs with 
loosely few-flowered, one-sided cymules in the axes of leaf-like bracts. 
1. M. officina'lis, L. Stem erect, branching ; leaves ovate, coarsely 
crenate-serrate, petiolate. 
Officixal ]S&lissa. Balm. Common Balm. 
Fr. La Melisse. Germ. Die Melisse. Span. Melisa. 

stem 1 - 2 or 3 feet high, more or less pubescent. Leaves 2 - 3 or 4 inches long ; petioles 
half an inch to an inch and a half in length — the^o?-aZ leaves resembling the cauline, but 
usually somewhat cuneate at base. Cymules 3-6-flowered on a short common peduncle. 
Calyx "dry, hairy. Corolla white or ochroleucous, sometimes slightly tinged with purple. 

Cultivated. Native of Southern Europe and Asia. J'Z. July -August. Jr. September. 

Ohs. Commonly cultivated in gardens, and has become sparingly nat- 
uralized in some places. An infusion of the herb, or Balm Tea," is a 
opular domestic medicine, and it is probably as efficacious as any other 
armless warm drink in producing perspiration. 

13. BRUNEL'LA, Tournef. Self-heal. 

[German, Die Braeune, the quinsy ; said to be cured by it.] 

Calyx tubular-campanulate, about 10-nerved^ reticulately veined, bilab- 
iate, — the upper lip flat, dilated, truncate, with 3 short-teeth — the lower 
lip bifid, segments lanceolate. Corolla with the upper lip erect, vaulted, 
entire — the lower lip depending, 3-lobed, middle lobe rounded, concave, 
crenulate ; tube a little contracted at throat, inflated below it on the 
under side, with an annuhis, or little ring of short hairs or scales, near 
the base within. Filaments 2-toothed at the apex, the lower tooth bear- 
ing the anther. Perennials with few-flowered cymules clustered in im- 
bricated spikes or heads. 



238 



WEEDS AXr USEFU^ PLA^'TS. 



1. B. vulgaris, L. Leaves ovate-oljlong or ovate-lanceolate, crenate 
dentate or obsoletely serrate, sometimes pinnatifidly incised, petiolate. 
Common Brunella. Heal-all. Self-heal. 

jF?-. Brunelle ordinaire. Germ. Gemeine Brunelle. Span. Brunela. 

stem 8 - 12 or 15 inches high, erect or ascendiug, somewhat branched, especially at base 
Leaves 1-3 inches long ; petioles half an inch - 2 inches long (those of the radical or lower 
.eaves often 3-4 inches' long) ; the floixd-leaves bract-hke, orbicular-cordate, sessile, with a 
short abrupt acumination, the lower ones conspicuously acuminate. CymuZ^s S-flowered, 
crowded into compact imbricated oblong terminal spikes. Bradeoles none. Corolla violet- 
purple (rarely pale purple or nearly white), smoothish. 

Fields, road -sides, open woodlands, &c.: introduced. Native of the old world. jPZ. July- 
September. Fr. August -November. 

Obs. This plant appears to be distributed over the four quarters of 
the globe ; but I should judge it not to be a native, here. Although 
not a pernicious weed, it is so com.mou, on our farms, that it seemed 
proper to notice it in this w^ork. Its ancient reputation for healing 
wounds — like that of many other such medicaments of the olden times — 
is now quite obsolete. The famous Mad-dog Scull-cap (Sciitella'ria 
lateriflo'ra, L.) — which once figured in the Gazettes as a specific for 
Hydrophobia — belongs to this tribe, — and is frequent in wet meadows. 

14. MAEEU'BIUM, L. Hoarhound. 

[Said to be derived from the Hebrew, Marrol ; meaning a bitter juice.] 

Calyx tubular, 5-10-nerved, nearly equally 5- lO-toothed, — ^the teeth 
more or less spiny-pointed, finally spreading. Corolla with the upper 
lip erect, flatfish or concave, somewhat bifid — lovrer hp spreading, 3- 
lobed, middle lobe broader ; tube inchided in the calyx. Stamens in- 
cluded ; anthers 2-celled, — the cells divaricate. Akenes obtuse at summit, 
but not truncate. Hoary-tomentose perennials with rugose leaves and 
many-flowered axillary cymules. 

1, M. vulga're, L. Stems ascending : leaves roundish-ovate or oval, 
crenate-dentate, softly villous and canescent beneath ; calyx with 10 
subulate recurved teeth. 
Common Maerubium. Hoarhound. 

Fr. Marrub blanc. Germ. Der weisse, Andorn. Span. Marrubio. 

stems 9-18 inches high, caespitose or branching from the base. Leaves about 2 inches 
long, abruptly narrowed at base to a flat nerved woolly petiole half an inch to an inch long. 
Cymules dense, sessile in the rather distant axils ; hracteoles subulate. Corolla white, 
small. 

Stony banks and waste places : introduced. Native of Europe and middle Asia. Fl. 
July -August. Fr. September. 

Obs. This has been introduced as a medicinal herb, — and is partially 
naturalized in many places. It has a weed-like appearance, but does not 
incline to spread much,-— and may well be tolerated to some extent, for 
its valuable tonic properties. The Syrups and Candies, prepared from 
or with it, are excellent pectoral medicines. 



MIXT FAMILY. 



230 



15. LA'MIUM, L. DEi^ D-XETTLE. 
[Greek, Laimos, the throat ; from its gaping flowers.] 

Calyx tubular-campanulate, about 5-nerved ; teeth 5, nearly equal, subu- 
late at apex. Corolla dilated at the throat, — the upper lip ovate or ob- 
loug, arched, mostly narrowed at base ; lower lip with the middle or 
lower lobe broad, emarginate, contracted at base and substipitate ; the 
lateral ones small at the margin of the throat. Stamens 4, ascending 
under the upper lip ; anthers approximated in pairs, 2-celled ; cells finally 
divaricate. Akenes tricpetrous with the angles acute truncate at sum- 
mit, smooth, or minutely rugose-tuberculate. 
I. L.amplexicau'le. L. Leaves /i^ 

■ ■ • ■ - ■ . 



rounded, crenately incised, — the 
lower ones petiolate — the floral 
ones sessile, amplexicaul ; tube 
of the corolla naked within, the 
lateral lobes not toothed; an- 
thers hirsute. 
Stem-claspixg Lamium. — Dead 
Nettle. Hen-bit. 
Fr. Le Lamier. Germ. Die 
Taube-nessel. Span. Ortiga 
muerta. 

Root annual. Stems several, or much 
branched from the base, decumbent 
or ascending, 6-12 inches high, 
mostly purplish. Leaves half an inch to 
three quarters in length, and mostly- 
wider than long, the lower or cauline 
ones on petioles half an inch to an inch 
long. Cymi<Z€- densely many-flowered, 
axillary, the lower ones distant, the 
upper ones rather approximated. Calyx 
sessile, hirsute. Corolla bright purple, 
pubescent, the galeate upper lip nearly 
entire, clothed with a purple villus ; 
lower lip obcordate ; throat dilated, 
laterally compressed ; tube slender, 
much exserted. The corolla, in the 
lower cymules, is often minute or 
wanting. 






151 



Id 2 



Gardens and cultivated lots : 
April - May. Fr. June. 



introduced. Native of Europe and Northern Africa. Fl. 



Obs. This worthless little weed is abundantly naturalized in and about 
our gardens in Pennsylvania, — and requires some attet tion to keep it in 



Fig. 151. A flower of the Garden Sage (Salvia oflBcinalis). 152. The same with the 
corolla removed and the calyx divided to show the pistil and 4-lobed ovary. 153. The 
Purple Lamium (lamiam amplexicaule). 



240 



WEEDS AXD USEFUL PLANTS. 



due subjection. Another species [L. purpu'rcum, L.) has also h^&a intro- 
duced in some localities ; but it does not appear to multiply so ra ifidly. 

16. LEONU'RUS, L. Motherwort. 

[Greek, Leon, a iion, and Oura, a tail ; from some fancied resemblance.] 

Calijx turbinate, 5 -10- nerved, — the limb truncate, 5-toothed ; teeth 
subulate, subspinesceut, finally spreading. Corolla bilabiate, — the upper 
lip oblong', entire, flattish or somewhat arched— lower lip spreading, 3- 
iobed, — the lateral lobes oblong — the middle one entire or sometimes ob- 
cordate. Stamens 4, ascending under the upper lip ; anthers approximat- 
ed in pairs, 2-celled, the valves naked. Akenes triquetrous, truncate at 
summit, smooth. Mostly perennial herbs with cut4obed leaves and close 
whorls of flowers in their axils. 

1. L. Cardia'ca, L. Lower stem4eaves palm ate4obed, the upper ones 
cuneate-oblong, mostly trifid, with a lengthened narrow base, — the lobes 
of all the leaves ovate or lanceolate ; corolla longer than the calyx-teeth ; 
the tube with a villous ring within at base ; upper lip flattish, hirsutely 
villous ; lower lip spreading, the middle lobe entire. 

Cardiac Leonurus. Motherwort. 

Ft. L'Agripaume. Germ. Das Herzgespann. Span. Agripalma. 

Root perennial Stem 2-4 feet high, branched at base and above, retrorsely pubescent, 
with a hairy ring at the joints or nodes. Leaves 2-4 inches long, rugose, the lower ones 
nearly orbicular in the outline ; j;e<ioZes 1-2 inches long. Cymules 3-6 or 8-flowered, 
Bessile, distant, forming an interrupted leafy spike 6-12 or 15 inches in length ; hracteoles 
Bubulate, smooth. Calyx strongly 5-ribbed, smoothish ; teeth acuminate, pungent, the 
lower ones rather longer. Corolla pale purple, externally very villous, especially on the 
upper hp. Al-eiies hirsute at summit. 

Fence rows and waste places : introduced. Native of Europe and Asia. Fl. Juue- 
July. Fr. August. 

Obs. This foreigner is completely naturalized, and is apt to occupy aU 
neglected nooks and waste places about farm-yards and along field-ssdes 
It is an utterly worthless weed — unsightly and disagreeable, — and speed- 
ily gives a forlorn appearance to the premises of the slothful and sloven- 
ly farmer. There is another species {L. mar rubias' trim, L.) which has 
become partially naturalized in some districts ; but it does not threaten 
to become so prevalent and troublesome. 

17. TEU'CEIUM, L. Germander. 

[Named from Teucer, a Trojan prince, who, it is said, first used the plant.] 

Cahjx tnbular-campanulate, nearly equally 5-toothed. Corolla with the 
tube short, — the 4 upper lobes of the limb nearly equal, oblong and de- 
clined, or very short and rather erect, — the lowest lobe largest, oblong or 
rounded, mostly concave. Stamens 4, exserted from the cleft between 
the upper lobes of the corolla ; anthers with the cells confluent. Cymules 
few -flowered in a terminal rather crowded greyish-green spike. 



BOEAGE FAillLT. 



24] 



L T. Canaden'se, L. Herbaceous, erect, lioary-pubescent . leaves 
ovate-lanceolate, acute, serrate, rounded at base, on short petioles. 
Caxadiax Teucrioi. AYood Sage. G-ermander. 

^ooi perennial. ^^e?;il-2or 3 feet high, simple or sparingly branched, square with 
tlie sides, concave and the angles obtuse, clothed vrith a retrorse cinereous pubescence. 
Leaves 3-5 inches long, on petioles one fourth to three fourths of an inch in length. Cymules 
2 -3-flowered, mostly cro^Yded. sometimes a little distant, in a spike 2-5 or 6 inches in 
length (often an opposite paii'o'f racemes from the axils of the first leaves beneath). Co- 
rolla pale purple, minutely pubescent ; limb declinate, with a central fissure on the upper 
Eide — the upper or lateral lobes erect, acute, the middle or lowest lobe oblong or obovate, 
concave. Style longer than the stamens, curved, equally bifid at summit. 

Fence rows and low shaded grounds : throughout the United States. J"!. July. Fr, 
August - September. 

Obs. This plant is frequently to be seen in low grounds, along streams, 
and sometimes along fence-rows and borders of fields ; but it has not be- 
come generally known as an intrusive weed. An observing farmer, how- 
ever, has recently brought to me some specimens of it collected in his 
fields, — where, he assured me, he found it a very troublesome weed — and 
moreover, exceedingly difficult to extirpate. I have, therefore, deemed 
it proper to describe the plant, and commend it to further notice, — so 
that its true character may be certainly determined, before its inroads 
become extensive. Since the above remark was written (1846), the plant 
has become very troublesome on some farms in Pennsylvania. 



Order L. BOEEAGINA'CE^. (Borage Family.) 

Mostly rough hairy herbs with round stems, alternate simple leaves without stipules and 
flowers in often 1-sided clusters or racemes which are spiral (circinaie) before expansion. 
Calyx 5-parted. Corolla mostly regular ; the limb 5-toothed, with 6 stamens inserted on its 
■ tube. Oca^-y deeply 4-lobed ; the style proceeding from the base of the lobes, which in 
fruit become httle nuts or hard akenes, each with a single seed without albumen. Herbage 
not aromatic. 

An Order for the most part of rough homely plants, some of them very obnoxious weeds, 
A few are slightly medicinal. The Alkanet of commerce (a red coloring matter) is afford- 
ed by a plant of this Order, viz. ; Anchusa tinctoria, L. Several species have showy 
flowers, and some of the Heliotropiums are admired for their fragrance. 
* Akenes or lobes erect, fixed by the lower end, separate from the style, not prickly. 
Corolla somewhat irregular, throat naked and open. 

The rather unequal stamens protruding. 1. Ecmuii. 

Corolla regular. 

Its throat closed by 5 converging scales. 2. Stmphttum. 

Its throa,t open, with 5 more or less evident projections ; lobes 

spreading, round, imbricated in the bud, white. 3. LrraosPERiiuM. 

** Akenes or lobes prickly, fixed by their side or upper end to the 
base of the style. Corolla salver-shaped with 5 scales in the 
throat. 

Akenes erect, prickly on the margins only. 

Flowers small. ' " 4. Echdcosfeemum. 

Akenes obhque or flattened from above, prickly or rough all 
over. 5. CryoGLOSSUM. 

1. E'CHIUM, Tournef. Yiper's-bugloss. 

[Greek, Echis, a viper ; from the resemblance of the seeds to a viper's head.] 

Corolla subcampanulate, limb obliquelv 5-lobed, unequal, the throat ex' 
11 



2i3 



WEEDS AXD USEFUL PLANTS. 



panded, naked. Stamens mostly exserted, unequal. Nutlets, roughened 
or wrinkled, fixed by a flat base. 

1. E. vulga're, L. Stem tuber- 
culate-hispid ; leaves linear- 
lanceolate, his^^id ; flowers in 
lateral secuud spikes, dispos- 
ed in a long narrow raceme. 
Common Echium. Blue-weed. 
Viper's Bugioss. Blue Devils. 
Fr. Herbe aux Viperes. Ger. 
Der Natterkopf. Span. Yer- 
ba de la Vibora. 

Root biennial. Stem 2-3 feet high, 
branched above. Radical-leaves 5-8 
inches long, lanceolate, petiolate ; 
slcm-leaves smaller, linear-lanceolate, 
acute sessile. Spikes numerous, ax- 
illary, secund and at first recurved, 
finally erect. Corolla at first pur- 
Iplish, finally bright blue, pubescent 
externally. A]ce7ies subovoid, angu- 
lar on the inner side, keeled on the 
back, a little incurved and acuminate, 
rough with tubercles of a greyish- 
brown color. 

Fields and road-sides : introduced. 
Native of Europe. Fl. June. Fr. 
August. 

Obs. This showy but vile 
weed, has become extensively 
naturalized in some portions 
of our country, — and is a sad 
pest wherever it establishes 
itself. I have seen it in con- 
siderable quantities in the 
State of Maryland, and of late 
years it has become abundant 
in New York — though I think 
it is yet rare in Pennsylvania. 
Prof. A. Gray informs us (Silliman's Journal, Vol. 42, p. 13j, that in 
the valley of the Shenandoah, Virginia, " for the distance of more than 
a hundred miles, it has taken complete possession, even of many cultivat- 
ed fields." A veteran editor of a newspaper in the " Old Dominion," 
has long been noted for harping on the Ovidiau phrase — " Principiis 
obsta,' — i. e. meet and resist beginnings — cr nip the first buddings of evil. 
If he had taught his agricultural fellow-citizens to apply his favorite 
maxim, practically to this plant, he would " have done the State some 
service :" and every farmer would do well to bear that maxim in mind, 




Fig. 154. Flowering summit of Viper's Bugioss (Echium vulgare). 



BOEAGE FAillLY. 



243 



not only in reference to this, but to all pernicious weeds. It would save 
a vast deal of vexatious labor at a future day. 

2. STM'PHYTUM, Tournef. Comfeey. 

[Greek, Synipliyo, to join ; from its supposed healing virtues.] 

Corolla tubular with 5 short spreading teeth ; the throat inflated and 
closed by 5 linear-awl-shaped scales. Stamens included ; anthers elongated. 
Nutlets smooth, ovate, fixed by a large hollowed base. Coarse peren- 
nials with mucilaginous roots and yellowish white ficwers in nodding 
hispid racemes. 

I. S. officinale, L. Stem winged above by the decurreuce of the sessile 
leaves ; lower leaves ovate-lanceolate, tapering to a petiole, the upper 
narrower. 

Officinal Symphytum. Comfrey. 

stem 2-3 feet high, branched, grooved or angular, and hispidly pilose. Leaves 6-12 
inches long, rugose petioles of the lower ones 3-5 inches in length. Racemes mthout 
bracts, the flowers rather crowded. Corolla rarely purplish; scales of the throat gland- 
ular dentate. 

Gardens, and naturalized in some places. Native of Europe. June. 

Obs. Formerly used as a remedy for " internal wounds," and still has 
some reputation in diseases of the lungs and bowels. The root is the 
part used ; it imparts a strong mucilage to water and has a slight 
astringency, and is at least harmless if not efficacious. 

3. LITHOSPER'MyM, Tournef. Gromwell. 

[Greek, Lithos, a stone, and Spenna, seed ; from the stony hardness of its seeds.] 

Corolla funnel-form or salver-form ; limb 5-lobed ; throat naked, or with 
5 small gibbous projections, ^n^/zers oblong, subsessile, included. Akenes 
bony, smooth or rugose, fixed by the base. 

1. L arven'se, L. Hispidly pilose ; leaves lance-linear, rather acute, 

entire, nerveless ; akenes rugose-pitted. 

Field Lithospermum. Stone- weed. Gromwell. 

Fr. Gremil des champs. Germ. Acker Steinsame. 

iioofe annual. Stem 12-18 inches high, generally much branched from the root, and 
often branched near the summit. Zeai'65 1 -2 inches long, — the lower ones often oblan- 
ceolate and obtuse. Flowers axillary, solitary, subsessile. Corolla ochroleucous, small, 
destitute of folds or appendages. Akenes ovoid, acuminate, rugose, brown when mature. 

Grain-fields and pastures : introduced. Native of Europe. Fl. May. Fr. June. 

Ohs. A worthless little foreigner, more noticeable for its frequency in 
our fields, than for any intrinsic importance, even as a weed. According 
to the doctrine of signatures — a fanciful theory of the early days of 
medical science, which assumed that all n.edicinal subs-tances indicated 
by some external character the diseases to which they were adapted, or 
the part of the body which they were supposed to affect — this, and other 
species, were formerly a reputed cure for the stone in the bladder, from the 
stony-like appearance of its seeds ; whence one of the popular names. 



2U 



WEEDS AXD USEFUL PLANTS. 




3. ECHINOSPER'MUM, Siuartz. Stickseed. 

[Greek, Echmos, a hedgehog, and sperma, seed ; from the prickly nutlets.] 
Corolla salver-form, about the lengtli of the calyx ; lobes rounded ; tbe 
throat closed with 5 short scales. Stamens included. Nutlets erect, fixed 
laterally to the base of the style or central column, triangular or com- 
pressed, the back armed with 1-3 rows of prickles which are barbed at 
the apex, otherwise naked. Rough-hairy greyish herbs, with small blue 
flowers in bracted racemes. 

1. E. Lap'pula, Lehm. Stem paniculately branched above ; leaves laneeo- 



FiG. 155. Corn Gromwell (Lithospermum arvense). 15G. The fruit of 4 smooth nut'ets, 
enlarged. 



BOEAGE FAMILY. 



245 



late, rather obtuse, rungli-hairy ; nutlets each with a double row of 
prickles on the margins, and tubercled on the back. 

Stickseed. Narrow-leaved Stickseed. 

Annual or Kennial. Stem a foot or more in height, covered with greyish spreading 
hairs, simple ij-?lo\v. Leaves 1-2 inches long, very hairy ; the hairs mostly tuberculate 
at the bas^'. Fhu'trs in leafy racemes, the pedicels very short. 

Wasie places. Native of Europe. July. 

Obs. Rather common in some localities. The nutlets adhere to the 
coats of sheep and cattle, and on this account the weed is a troublesome 
one. 

4. CYNOGLOS'SUM, Tournef. Hound's-toxgue. 

[Greek, Kyon, a dog, and Glossa, a tongue ; from the form of the leaves.] 

Corolla funnel-form — the tube nearly as long as the calyx ; throat closed 
by 5 obtuse scales ; limb 5-lobed ; the lobes very obtuse. Stamens in- 
cluded. Nutlets depressed or convex, oblique, fixed near the apex to the 
base of the style, roughened all over w^ith short barbed or hooked 
prickles. Coarse herbs with a strong unpleasant odor, and mostly pauicled 
racemes which are naked above, but usually braded at the base. Lower 
leaves petioled. 

1. C. Moriso'ni, DC. Stem erect, somewhat hispid, divaricately 
branched at summit ; leaves ovate, lanceolate, acuminate, narrowed at 
base ; racemes somewhat in pairs, with the rachis villous ; pedicels 
finally reflexed ; fruit densely covered with uncinate prickles 

Morison's Cynoglossum. Beggar's Lice. 

Root annual. Siem 2-4 feet high. Leaves 3-4 incites long, acute at each end, scabrous, 
the lower ones petiolate — the upper ones subsessile. Racemes terminating the slender 
divaricate branches, mostly dichotomous ; pedicels about as long as the fruit. Corolla 
bluish-white, small. 

Fence-rows and borders of thickets : Northern and Middle states. Fl. July. Fr. 
October. 

Obs. The slovenly farmer is apt to get a practical acquaintance with 
this obnoxious weed, in consequence of its racemes of bur-like fruit en- 
tangling the manes of his horses, and the fleeces of his sheep. 

2. C. officinale, L. Softly pubescent ; stem paniculate above, leafy r 
upper leaves lanceolate, closely sessile by a rounded or slightly heart^ 
shaped base ; racemes nearly bractless ; nutlets flat on the broad upper 
face, somewhat margined. 

Officinal Cynoglossum. Hound's-tongue. 

Biennial. iSto about 2 feet high. Radical leaves Q -12 inches in leiigth, lance oblong, 
petiolate ; stem leaves 3-6 inches long. Racemes 2-5 inches long, mostly erect, secttnd • 
pedicels 3^ an inch in length ; corolla reddish or purplish brown, (rartjy white). 

^Vaste places and pastures. Native of Europe. May -July. 

Obs. Troublesome in the same manner with the preceding species. 
The disagreeable odor of the plant has been compared to that of nests 
of young mice. 



24G 



WEEDS AXD USEFUL PLAINTS. 




Order LI. COXYOLYULA'CEJi:. (Coxyolyulus Famh.y.) 

Mostly trailing or twining herhs, often with a milky juice ; leaves alternate (in Cuscuta 
reduced to minute scales") ; flowers regular, hexandrous ; calyx of 5 imbricated persistent 
sepals; corolla 5-plaited or 5-lobed, fsvisted or convolute in ttie bud ; ovary •2-ce\\ed (rarely 
3-celled) with a pair of erect o^'ules in each ceU, the cells sometimes doubled by a false 
partition between the seeds, so becoming 4-celled ; the erribryo large, curved or coiled in a 
mucilaginous albumen. Fridt a globular 2- 6-seeded pod. 

A family containing many showy plants, some of which are cultivated for ornament. 
The medicinal products, Jalap and' Scammony, are furnished by plants of this order. 



Vjg. 157. Common Hounds-tongue (Cynoglossum ofBcinale). 15S. Portion of the corolh 
with the scales which close the throat." 159. ITie fruit, consisting of pricldy nutlets adher- 
ing to the base of the style. 



COXVOLYT-LL'S FAZillLY. 



247 



1 BATATAS, Rumpio. Sweet Potato. 

[Apparent y an aboriginal or barbarous name, — adopted for tlie genus.] 

Corolla campanalate — the limb spreading. Stamens 5, included. Style 
simple ; stigma capitate ; 2-lobed. Capsule 4-celled, 4-Yalved. Seeds 4, 
erect. 

1. B. e'dulis, Chois. Stem creeping-, rarely voluble ; leaves subhastate 
—cordate with the sinus broad and shallow, often angular and partially 
lobed, petiolate ; peduncles as long or longer than the petioles, 3-4- 
flowered. 

Eatable Batatas. Sweet Potato. Carolina Potato. 

Fr. Patate jaune. Germ. Batateu Winde. Span. Batata de Malaga. 

Root perennial, tuberous ; tubers oblong, terete, acute at each end, yellowish- white, or 
sometimes purple externally, j-ellowish within. Stem 4-8 feet long, slender, prostrate, 
radicating, pilose. Leaves 2-3 or 4 inches long ; petioles about 2 inches in length. Corolla 
purple {fide DC). 

Gardens and lots : cultivated. 

Ohs. Cultivated for its large sweet edible farinaceous roots, especially 
in the Southern States, though its culture has been found practicable 
much farther Xorth than was formerly supposed. The warm sandy soil 
of Xew Jersey produces fine specimens, and it has succeeded in some of 
the States of the West, In the Middle States it does not flower, but is 
propagated altogether by cuttings. The plant is generally supposed to 
have originated in tropical America ; although it has extended, in culti- 
vation, throughout the warmer portions of both continents, it has never 
been detected by any botanist in the wild state. The word potato is said 
to be a corruption of Batata, the name it bore among the aborigines of 
some portion of this continent. This is doubtless the potato spoken of 
by Shakspeare, and contemporary writers ; the Irish Potato," so 
called (Sola'xum tcbeeo'sum), being then scarcely known in the Old 
World. Sweet Potatoes were among the presents which Columbus 
carried to Isabella, from the newly-discovered world. 

2. COXyOL'\^ULUS, L. Bixd-weed. 

[Latin, Convolco, to entwine, or wind about ; descriptive of the plant.] 

Corolla carapanulate. Sty'e simple ; stigmas 2, terete-linear, often 
revolute. Capsule 2-celled. Seeds 4, erect. Stems twining procumbent, 
often erect-spreading. Floivers mostly opening at dawn. 

1. C. arven'sis, L. Stem voluble or often prostrate ; leaves ovate- 
oblong, mostly obtuse, sagittate at base ; peduncles mostly 1-flowered, 
bibracteate — the bracts small, remote from the liower. 

Field Convolvulus. Biud-weed. 

Fr. liseron des champs. Germ. Die Ackerwinde. Span. Corregiiela. 

Eoat perennial, creeping, long. S'.em about 2 feet long slender, branching, procumbent 



24S 



WEEDS AND USEFUL PLAXXa. 




or twining round other plants, twisted, a lit*".e liairy. Leaves an inch to an inch and a 
half long — the smaller ones rather acute, zh j larger ones obtuse and somewhat emarginate 
— all of them with a minute cusp at the end of the midrib ; petioles half an inch to an inch 
long. Peduncles axillary, 1 -2.% inches long, with 2 minute tracts half an inch to an inch 
below the flower. Corolla paie red or reddish-white. ■ 
Cultivated lots : introduced. Isative of Europe and Asia. Fl. June -July. Fr. Aug. 

Ohs. This foreigner "has been introduced into some portions of our 
country, — and may give the farmers some trouble, if they do not guard 
against it. We are told that incessant vigilance is the condition on 
which alone the rights of freemen can be maintained ; and I believe the 
farmer will find a similar condition annexed to the preservation of his 
premises from the inroads of pernicious weeds. The following remarks, 
from the Flora Londinensis, will afford some idea of the character of 
this Convolvulus, as observed in England, — and may serve as a salutary 
caution here : 

" Beautiful as this plant appf/irs to the eye, experience proves it to 
have a most pernicious tendency in Agriculture. The field of the slov- 
enly farmer bears evident tescifiiony of this : nor is the garden wholly 
exempt from its inroads. Tho following experiment may serve to show 
what precaution is necessary in the introduction of plants into a garden, 
especially when we want them to grow in some particular situation. 

•• Tempted by the lively appearance which I had often observed some 
banks to assume from being covered with the blossoms of this Convol- 
vulus, I planted twelve feet of a bank in my garden, which was about 
four feet in height, with some roots of it : it was early in the spring 



Fig. 160. E:n Iwc-ed (Convolvulus arvensis.) 



COXYOLYULUS FAMILY. 



249 



and the season Tvas remarkably dry, so that I scarcely expected to see 
them grow ; but a wet season coming on, soon convinced me that my 
apprehensions Vv^ere unnecessary, for they quickly covered the whole sur- 
face of the bank, to the almost total extirpation of every other plant. 
It being a generally received opinion, that if a plant was cut down close 
to the ground, it would thereby be destroyed, or at least very much 
weakened, I was determined to try the validity of this opinion by an 
experiment, and accordingly, the whole of the Convolvulus was cut 
down somewhat below the surface of the earth. In about a month the 
bank was covered with it thicker than before. I then had recourse to 
a second cutting, and afterwards to a third : but all these were insuffi- 
cient ; for now at this present v>-riting (August) the bank is wholly 
covered with it ; nor do I expect to destroy it, but by levelling the 
bank and destroying the roots." 

The common Morning-glory is placed by some botanists in this genus, 
and by others, it is referred to Ipomoea, which differs from Convolvulus 
chiefly in its capitate, and often 2 - 3-lobed stigma. This, the IpomcE'a 
purpurea, L., is sparingly naturalized about dwellings ; and a very hairy 
species, 1. Nil, Roth, is found in similar situations in the Southern 
States. The beautiful Cypress Vine, often cultivated, and somewhat 
spontaneous Southward, is Quam'oclit vulga'ris, Chois. 

3. CUS'CUTA, Tournef. Doddek. 

[A name of uncertain derivation and obscure meaning.] 

Ca/7/x 4 - 5-cleft. Coro//a globose-urceolate or tubular,— the limb 5 or 
rarely 4-cleft. Stamens furnished with a scale-like, often fringed appen- 
dage at the base. Ovary free, 2-celled and 4-ovuled ; styles 2, rarely 
united into 1. Fruit mostly capsular,— the pericarp m.embranaceous, 
circumscissed at base or bursting irregularly. Embryo spiral, filiform, 
more or less convolute in and around fleshy albumen. Parasitic Jierhs, 
with slender twining leafless orange-colored stems ; germinating in the 
earth, but speedily attaching themselves to other plants by radicating 
processes, through which they derive nourishment, — and, dying at the 
root, soon lose all direct connection with the soil Flowers clustered. 
1. C. epili'num, V/eih. Stem filiform ; flowers in dense capitate sessile 
rather distant clusters ; corolla globular, 5-parted, scarcely exceeding 
the calyx, withering on the capsule ; scales minute ; stigmas elongated ; 
pod opening regularly around the base by a circumsissile dehiscence. 
Flax Cuscuta, Flax-vine. Dodder. 
Fr. Fil de terre. Germ. Die Flachs-seide. Span. Cuscuta. 

Annual. Stem 2-3 or 4 feet long, very slender, smooth, pale orange-color. Flowers in 
gmall dense heads or clusters. Calyx segments i - b ovate , rather acute. Corolla yellowish- 
white or pale orange-color, subglohosc-urceolate, 4-5-lobed; lobes ovate, acute, some- 
what spreading. Stamens inserted at the clefts of the corolla. Scales adr ate to the coroUt 
below the stamens, short, truncate, crenate-laciniate. Capsule depressed-globose. Seeds 
reddish-brown, scabrous or almost muricate under a lens. 

Farasltic on flax ; introduced. Native of Europe. jPL June. i^r. July. 



250 



WEEDS AND L'SEFCL PLAXTS. 



Obs. This slugular plant — formerly a great pest among tlie flax ciops 
— ^has become quite rare, since the culture of flax has declined. There 
are several native species of this genus, the most common of which, C* 
Grono'vii, WiUd., is often seen in swampy places, from August to Octo- 
ber, twining over other plants in tangled masses, which have been 
likened to bunches of threads of yarn, and to copper wires. 



Order LII. SOLAN A' CE^. (Nightshade Family.; 



and connected with each other, 

1. LYCOPERSICUil, 

2. SOLAXUJI. 



SXostlj- 7ie/'5s, with a watery juice and alternate Z^ai'es without stipules, regular 5-merous and 
5-and"rous flowers on hractless pedicds ; corolla plicate or infolded-valvate in the bud ; 
stamens inserted into the corolla, as many as its lobes and alternate with them. Fruit a 2- 
celled (rarely 3-5-celled) many-seeded berry or capsule ; seeds with fleshy albumen. 

An Order comprising plants with widely different properties ; sometimes the foliage and 
fruit are highly poisonous, while on the other hand it afibrds some of our most valuable 
esculents. 

*Corolla wheel-shaped. Stamens closely converging or united around the style. Fruit 
a berry. 

Anthers longer than the very short filaments, 
opening lengthwise. 
Xot connected, opening at the top by two pores. 
Anthers shorter than the filaments, heart-shaped, opening length- 
wise. Berry inflated, pod-like, pulp very pungent. 
**Corolla between wheel-shaped and bell-shaped. Anthers separate. 

Calyx becoming inflated around the eatable berry. 
***Corolla funnel-shaped, bell-shaped or tubular. Stamens separate ; 

filaments slender. Calyx 5-toothed or 5-iobed. 
Shrubby with vine-like branches and narrow leaves. 
Corolla "funnel-shaped, small. Fruit a berry. 
Annual herbs with an unpleasant odor. Fruit a pod. 

Corolla and stamens rather irregular. Pod in the urn-shaped calys 

opening at the top by a lid. 
Corolla perfectly regular, long funnel-shaped. 

Calyx 5-angled, long, falling away after flowering. 
Pod large and prickly. 
Calyx not angled, persistent. Pod smooth. 



3. Capsicum. 

4. Physaus. 



5. Lycttm. 



6. HToscYAiirvi 



7. Dattpj^ 

8. XlCOTIiN'A. 



1. LYCOPER'SIGUM, Tournef. Tomato. 

[literally Wolf-Peach ; a metaphorical name, having reference to the fruit.] 

Calyx 5 - 10-parted. persistent. Corolla rotate ; tube very short ; limb 
plicate, 5-10-lobed. S;'aw3?2S 5 - 6, exserted ; anthers oblong-conical^ 
cohering by an elongated membrane at summit, longitudinally dehiscent 
on the inner side. Ovarii 2 - 3-celled, with the placentee adnate to th.e 
dissepiment, many-ovuled. Berry 2 - 3-celled. Seed^ numerous, reui- 
form. pulpy-villous. Leaves odd-pinnately dissected. Flowers in lateral 
racemose clusters. 

1. L. esculex'tum, 3111. Stem herbaceous ; leaves interruptedly 
pseudo-pinnate, — the segments petiolulate, lance-ovate, acuminate, 
deeply incised-serrate ; fruit depressed-globose, mostly torose. 

EscuLEXT Lycopersicum. Tomato, or Tomatoes. Love-apple. 

Fr. Pomme d' amour. Germ. Dcr Liebes-Apfel. Span. Tomate. 



NIGHTSHADE FAMILY. 



251 



Plant of a g-reyisli aspf'Ct, viscid-pubescent and somewhat fetid. Root annual. Stem 2- 
i feet long, "branching, often straggling or procumbent unless supported. Ilowers in 
naked lateral racemose clusters ; comm.on peduncle 1-2 inches long, dichotomously divid- 
ed, the sub-divisions articulated to the pedicels of the flowers. Calyx-segments 5-10, 
linear-lanceolate, long. Corolla yellow, pubescent, the lobes 5-10, lanceolate, spreading. 
Anthers cohering, acuminate, with the points recurved. Berries large (1-3 or 4 inches or 
more in diameter), globose or flatly depressed and orbicular, often remarkably torose or 
distorted by large swelling ridges, red or reddish orange-color when mature. 

Gardens and lots: cultivated. Native of Spanish America. jPI. June - August. Fr. 
August - September. 

Obs. This is cultivated for its succulent acid fruit — which, as a sauce, 
is considered very healthful, — and has, of late years, become a favorite 
and almost universal dish, in its season. Numerous varieties are found in 
cultivation ; the fruit varying in color, being yellow, deep-red and light- 
crimson ; some have the surface smooth, and in others it is deeply fur- 
rowed. The larger ben'ies are usually in an abnornal - condition, con- 
taining numerous cells, and sometimes appearing as if produced by the 
union of several ovaries. The small round kind, known as " Cherry To- 
mato," is probably L. cerasiforme, Dunal ; this, also, varies in color, 
and ha3 probably hybridized with the ordinarily cultivated species, to 
produce the intermediate forms that are often met with. 

2. SOLA'NUM, L. Nightshade and Potato. 

[A name of obscure and uncertain meaning.] 

Calyx 5-10-parted, persistent. Corolla rotate or subcampanulate ; 
tube short ; limb plicate, mostly 5-lobed. Stamens mostly 5, inserted 
on the throat of the corolla, exserted ; anthers connivent, opening at 
apex by 2 pores. Berry 2- (rarely 3-4-) celled. Leaves various ; 
-flowers in cymose clusters — on mostly lateral and extra-axillary pedun- 
cles, 

^ Anthers blunt ; 2)lants not prickly. 

1. S. nigrum, L. Stem, herbaceous, angular, branched, scabrous on 
the angles ; leaves ovate, 'obscurely repand-dentate ; flowers subumbel- 
late ; fruit globose, black. 

Black Solanum. Nightshade, 

Fr. Morelle noire. Germ. Der schwarze Nachtschatten. Span. Yer- 
ba mora. 

Root annual. Stem 1-2 feet high, much branched, angular or slightly winged. Leaves 
2-3 inches long ; petioles about an inch long. Umbels lateral above the axils, few-flowered, 
nodding. Corolla white. 

Waste. places, about gardens and dwellings. Native of Europe. T^L July. JV. Sept. 

Obs. A homely, worthless, and even deleterious weed, — which ought to 
be carefdly expelled from the vicinity of all dwellings. 

2. S. Dulcama'ra, L. Somewhat shrubby and climbing ; leaves cor- 
date-OTate, the upper ones often hastate or with 2 ear-like lobes at base ; 
flowers in lateral cymes ; fruit oval, red. 



252 



WEEDS AND USEFUL PLANTS. 




Bitter-sweet Solanum. Bitter-sweet. Woody Nightshade. 

Perrenial. Stem 4-S feet long, flexuose, smoothish. Leaves 2 - 4: inches long ; petioles 
half an inch to an inch in length. Cym^s opposite the leaves, inodding ; pedicels half an 
inch long, clavate ; common peduncle about 2 inches in length ; coroUa violet-purple, the 
lobes spreading or reflexed, each with 2 green dots or tubercles at base. Berry near half 
an inch long. 

About houses, &c. Native of Europe. J'Z. July. Tr. September. 

Ohs. Extensively naturalized in fertile soils, and is often tolerated and 



Fig. 161 A branch of Nightshade (Solanum nigrum). 162. A fruit. 163.' The sama 
divided 



XIGxiTSHADE FAMILY. 



253 



eveu sometimes cuhivated to train over walls and fences, as its flowers 
and fruit are showy. The berries are said to be poisonous, though this 
is denied by some authors ; but as it is an unsettled question, and as 
their bright red appearance, when ripe, may tempt children to eat them, 
the plant should be regarded as a dangerous one. The twigs are used 
in medicine to increase the secretions of the kidneys and skin. * 

3. S. TUBEKo'suM, L. Underground shoots producing tubers ; leaves 
interruptedly pseudo-pinnate, — the lobes ovate, entire ; fruit globular, 
rather small, greenish yellow. 

Tuberous Solaxum. Common Potato. Irish Potato. 

Fr. Pomme de terre. Germ. Die Kartoffel. Span. Batatin. 

Annual; the basa of the stem producing tuberous oblong or roundish pedicellate 
rJiisomas. ^fm '2-3 feet high, thickish and succulent or fleshy, often decumbent, some- 
what pubescent. Leaves odd-pinnately dissected, — the segments somewhat petiolulate, 
sometimes opposite, the alternate pairs very small. Floicers in terminal nodding corymbs, 
on a common peduncle 3-5 inches long; pedicels articulated. Corolla bluish -white. 
Anthers orange yellow, often slightly cohering. Berries globose, about half an inch in 
diameter. 

Kitchen gardens and fields: cultivated. Xative of South America. Fl. June -July 
Fr. September. 

06.5. This most important plant is more or less cultivated, for its escu- 
lent tubers, by every owner or occupant of land. It is one of the indis- 
pensable crops for a family. Xumerous varieties of tubers — purple, 
white and yeUow — have been obtained, by long culture, or from seedling 
plants. According to M'Culloch, Potatoes were introduced into Eng- 
land, from Virginia, by Sir Walter Ealeigh, in 1586 ; into Ireland in 
1610, — where they have long furnished from three-fifths to four-fifths 
of the entire food of the people"' ; and into Scotland in 1728. 

** Antherslong and taper-pointed ; stem and leaves prickly. 

4. S. esculen'tum, Dunal. Stem herbaceous, nearly simple ; leaves 
ovate, somewhat sinuate-lobed, tomentose ; flowers 5-7 or 10-parted ; 
peduncles solitary, thickened, nodding ; calyx aculeate ; fruit ovoid or 
oval, dark purple or white, mostly very large. 

Esculent Solanum. Egg-plant. 

Fr. Aubergine rouge. Germ. Eifriichtiger Nachtschatten. 

Whole plant clothed with a stellated tomentum. Root annual. Stem about 2 feet high, 
hollow, aculeate, finally subligneous Zeaves 6 - 9 inches long, — the nerves and petioles 
aculeate; petioles 1-3 inches long. Peduncles lateral, supra-axillary, thick, (sometimes 
slender and dichotomous, or bearing 2 flowers) , aculeate. Corolla purplish, pubescent ; 
lobes ovate, spreading. Berries 3 - 5 or 6 inches iff diameter, smooth. 

Gardens : cultivated. Native of India. i^L July- August. JV. September -October. 

Ohs. This is cultivated for its fruit — which is quite a favorite culinary 
vegetable. Long culture has produced several striking varieties, some 
of which have been described as species ; the white-fruited variety is 
nearly destitute of prickles. 

5. S, Caroline? ' S3, T^- Stem suffruticose; branching ; leaves ovate* 



254 



WEEDS AXD rsEruL pla:?sT3. 




oblong, acute, sinuate-angled and often subhastate. prickly on both sides ; 
racemes simple, loose ; fruit globose, small, orange yellow. 
Caeolixiax Soi^tjm. Horse-nettle. 

Boot perennial, ^em 1 to near 2 feet Mgh, annual but firm and almost shrubby, hoUcw, 
branching, armed with sharp spreading prickles. Leaves -k-^ inches long, aculeate on tha 
midrib and larger nerves on both sides, clothed with a hirsute stellate pubescence ; 
Detioles half an inch to an inch and a half long. Macemes lateral, opposite to and often 



Fig. 164. The Horse-nettle (Solanmn Carohnense). 



XIGHTSHADE FAMILY. 



255 



longer than the leaves. Calyx o-parted, aculeate. Corolla bluish-white. Berries pne-fourth 
to one-third of an inch in diameter. 

Pastures and cultivated grounds — especially in the Southern States. FT. Juh'. Fr. 
October. 

Ohs. This is an exceeding-ly |3€rnicions weed, — and so tenacious of life 
that it is almost impossible to get rid of it, when once fully introduced. 
It gTovrs in patches so thickly as to deter stock from feeding among it, 
and even to monopolize the soil. — while its roots gradually extend 
around, and to a great depth. It is a native of the Southern States, — ■ 
but has found its Y\-ay to several localities in Pennsylvania. The farmers 
will do well, therefore, to enable themselves to know it when they meet 
it, — and moreover, to eradicate it, promptly and effectually, wherever 
they find it on their premises. 

3. CAP'SICmi, Tournef. Capsicum. 

[Greek, J:a;pto^ to bite ; from its hot or biting quality.] 

Calyx angular, 5 - 6-cleft, persistent. Corolla sub-rotate, with a very 
short tube, — the limb plicate, 5-6-lobed. Stamens 5-6, exserted ; 
anthers shorter than the filaments, heart-shaped, longitudinally dehiscent. 
Berry nearly dry, inflated, polymorphous, incompletely 2-3-celled. 
Seeds numerous, compressed, reniform. 

1. C. AN'xmr, L. Stem herbaceous ; leaves ovate, acuminate, entire, 

glabrous ; peduncles solitary, axillary. 

Annual CAPSicuii. Eed Pepper. Cayenne Pepper. 

Fr. Poivre dTnde. Germ. Spanischer Pfeffer. Sjpan. El Pimentero, 
and El Chili. 

Root annual. Stem 1-2 feet high, angialar , branching above. Leaves 2-4 inches long, 
deep green; petioles 1-3 inches long, semi-terete, shghtly channeled above. Corolla 
white, with ovate-oblong spreading lobes. Anthers white, with a tinge of blue. Bei'ry 
hollow, terete and slender, ovoid-oblong, or depressed-globose, angular or torose, red 
when mature. 

Gardens and lots : cultivated. Xative of South America. PZ. July-Aug. Pr. Oct. 

Obs. Cultivated for its fruit, — which is powerfally stimulant, and much 
used as a condiment. Several varieties (perhaps distinct species) — with 
the fruit of various forms — are to be met with in the gardens. That one 
with slender terete elongated fruit, is sometimes cultivated on a large 
scale, — for the manufacture of Cayenne Pepper, from the mature fruit : 
the other forms with thicker rinds, are used in the green state for 
pickles. 

In Mexico and other warm countries of this continent, this is almost one 
of the necessaries of life. The common people living mostly upon vege- 
table food, use this stimulant freely, and either in its green state, " chili 
verde,'' or ripe, '•' chili Colorado," it forms an accompaniment to every meal. 
C. bacmtum, C. frutescens, and perhaps other species, furnish the imported 
" bird pepper" which is, when green, used to make pepper-vinegar or 
pepper-sauce, and in the ripe state ground to form the Cayenne of th<^ 
shops. 



256 



WEEDS A^"D USEEUi PLA^nTS. 



4. PHT'SALIS, L. Groum)- Cherry. 

[Gree!^, Physa. a bladder, or "bag ; in allusion to ttie inilaTed calys ] 

Calyx 5-cleft, enlarging after flowering, becoming mncli inflated, and in- 
cluding the 2-celled globular (edible) fleshy berry. Corolla spreading 
bell-sliaped. marked with 5 concave spots at the base ; the plicate bor- 
der somewhat 5-lobed or 5-toothed. Leaves somewhat in pairs ; vcdun- 
c/e-s extra axillary, nodding, 1-flowered. 

1. P. visoo'sa, L. Root perennial : diverrenTlr branching ; leaves 
somewhat heart-ovate, repandly toothed ; corolla brownish in the throat. 

Clammy Physalis. Ground-cherry. 

Sterii 12-18 inclies high, branched somewliat dicliotomously and witli the whole plant 
clammy pubescent. Leaves 2-4 inches long, varying from lance-orate and acute to 
roundish ovate or sub-cordate and obtuse ; petioles i-2 inches long. Corolla greenish- 
yellovr, with fuscous or purphsh brown spots at base, about twice as long as th? calyx. 
Ben-y greenish-yellow or sometimes orange color, when mature. Pedunde^ cf thj fruit 
about an inch long. 

Common in light sandy soils : also cultivated, PI. July. Pr. Seriemb ;-!-. 

2. P. Alkeken'gi, L. Perennial ; leaves deltoid-ovate, acuminate ; 
corolla not spotted. 

Strawberry Tomato. Ground-cherry. 

Less branching than the preceding. Leaves attenuated into d long petiole : 3-4 inches 
long including the petiole and 1}^-- inches broad The inflated calyx becoming reddish at 
maturity. Berry red. 

Native of Europe, Cultivated. 

Ohs. Both the species of Physalis above-mentioned have within a few 
years come into cultivation. The ripe fruit has a very pleasant flavor, 
and is eaten raw or cooked. 

5. LY'CIUjI, L. Matrimony- vixe. 

[Xamed from Lycia. in Asia ilinor.] 

Calyx irregularly 2 - 3 or 5-cleft, persistent. Corolla tubular-funnel-form : 

border mostly 5-lobed, spreading. Stamens usually exserted : filaments 

bearded. Berry 2-celled ; seeds reniform. Shrubby vines with entire 

leaves : flov:ers solitary or in pairs on extra-axillary 

1. L. Bar'barum, L. Somewhat spinose ; branches elongated, flaccid 

and dependent ; leaves oblong-lanceolate, often clustered; calvx mosilv 

5-clcft. 

Barbarian Lycium. Bastard Jasmine. IMatrimony-vine. Barbarv 
Box-thorn. Duke of Argvle's Tea-tree. 

Perennial. Stera 10 -20 feet long, slender, much branched, with indurated points at 
the axils or base of the leaves. Leaves 1-3 inches long, tapering at base to a pdi^U 
about half an inch in length. Peduncles about an inch long, slender, often 2-4 together ; 
coroU-a greenish-parple : berry oval, orange-red when mature. 

About dwellings. Native of Northern^Asia. J ; : - T , ' r . 

Obs. This straggling lialf-vine kind of >ln';ib i.s partially naturalized in 



lylGHTSHADE FAMILY. 



257 




many places ; and being rather difficult to get rid of when once estab- 
lished, is often something of a nuisance. It is frequently cultivated to 
cover screens, &c. ; but there are so many plants better adapted every 
way to ther purpose, that its culture is not to be recommended. 

6. HYOSOY'AMUS, Tournef. Henbane. 

[Greek, Hys^ Hyos, a hog, and Kyamos, a bean, because it either is or is not poisonous to 
hogs, — a point upon which authors differ.] 

Calyx bell-shaped or urn-shaped, 5-lobed. Corolla funnel-form, oblique, 



Fig. 165. The Ground of Winter-cherry (Physalia Alkekengi). a. A fruit with half of 
Ihe inflated calyx cut away. 



258 



WEEDS AND USEFUL PLANTS. 



with a 5-lobed more or less unequal plaited border. Stamens declined. 
Pod enclosed in the persistent calyx, 2-celled, opening transversely all 
round near the apex, which falls off like a lid. Clammy pubescent, fetid, 
narcotic herbs, with lurid flowers in the axils of the angled or toothed 
leaves, 

1. H, niger, L. Leaves clasping, sinuate, toothed and angled ; flowers 
sessile, in one-sided leafy spikes ; corolla dull yellowish, strongly reticu- 
lated with purple veins. 

Black Hyoscyamus. Common or Black Henbane. 

Annual or biennial. Whole plant viscid and hairy, of a glaucous hue. Stem 1-2 
feet high. Xower Zeares petioled, spreading on the ground. CaZya; closely embracing the 
seed-vessel, strongly netted-veined. iseeds numerous, kidney-shaped, the surface strongly 
reticulated. 

Eoad-sides and waste places. Native of Europe. July -August. 

Obs. This plant which is but sparingly naturalized as yet, is power- 
fully narcotic and poisonous. A small fragment of a leaf, or a drop of 
the juice of the plant falling upon the eye, dilates the pupil in a remark- 
able manner. It is used in medicine as a substitute, in some cases, for 
opium. 

1. DATU'RA, L. Thorn-apple. 

[Supposed to be from Tatorah ; the Arabic name of the plant.] 

Calyx tabular, prismatic, separating transversely above the base in fruit. 

Corolla funnel-form, the limb spread- 
ing, plicate, 5-10-toothed. Sta- 
mens included. Style simple ; stig- 
ma 2-lipped. Capsule ovoid or sub- 
globose, prickly, (rarely smooth), 
half 4-celled at summit, 4-valved. 
Seeds numerous, laterally compressed, 
sub-reniform, roughish-dotted. An- 
nuals, with coarse, fetid and nar- 
cotic leaves, somewhat in opposite 
pairs, and large, solitary, axillary or 
dichotomal flowers, on short pe- 
duncles. 

1. D. Siramo'nhm, L. Stem dicho- 
tomously branching ; leaves ovate, 
sinuate-dentate, petiolate, smooth ; 
capsule aculeate, erect. 
Jamestown (corruptly Jimson) weed. 
Thorn-apple. 

Fr. Pomme epineuse. Germ. Der 
Steeh-apfel. Span. Estramonio. 




Fig. 166. A capsule of the Thorn-apple (Datura Stramonium). 



XIGnTSHADE FA^IILY. 



259 



Root annual. Stem 2-5 feet high, rather stont, terete, pale yellow <h-green (dark 
p-.n-ple in var. Tatula), smooth. Leaves or 8 inches long, sinuate or somewhat angu- 
lar-dentate ; petioles 1-3 or 4 inches in length. CaZ//a; prominently 5-angled, nearly 
half as long as the corolla. Corolla ochroleucous (pale violet purple in var. Tatula), about 
3 inches long ; capsule about an inch in diamter. 

Waste places, farm-yards, road-sides, kc. J'L July -August. Fr. September. 

Obs. A native of Asia or tropical America. Botli varieties, the one 
with green and the other with purple stems, are very common. The 
herb and seeds are powerful narcotic poisons. They are used medici- 
Dally, and the dried root is sometimes smoked as a remedy for asthma. 
Both varieties are coarse unsightly weeds, and should be carefully extir- 
pated by the farmer. 

8. NICOTIA'NA, L. Tobacco. 

[Xamed in compliment to John Nicot; who introduced it into France ] 

Calyx tubular-campanulate, persistent. Corolla funnel-form, — the limb 
spreading, plicately 5-lobed. Stamens included. Style simple ; stigma 
capitate. Capsule covered by the calyx, septicidally 2-valved at apex, 
th3 valves finally bifid, retaining separate placentae. Seeds very nume- 
rous, minute. 

1. N. Tabac'oi, L. Leaves large, lance- 
ovate, sessile, decurrent ; lobes of the corol- 
la acuminate, the throat inflated. _ 

Tobacco Nicotiaxa. Tobacco. 

Fr. Le Tabac. Gem. Der Taback. Span. 
Tabaco. 

Whole plant viscid-pubescent. Root annual. Stem 
4-6 feet high, stout, finally almost woody at base, 
paniculately branched above. Leaves 1-2 feet long, 
smaller as they ascend. Calyx about one third the 
length of the corolla, ventricose, the segments lanceo- 
late erect. Corolla about 2 inches long; hmb rose-colored, 
spreading ; tube pale yellowish-green. Capsule ovoid, 
snlcate on each side, 'Seeds reniform, rugose. 

Fields : cultivated extensively in the Southern and 
Western States. Xative of the warmer regions of 
America. Known to Europeans about the year 1560. 
Ft. July -August. Fr. Sept. 

Obs. The extent to which this nauseous 
and powerfully narcotic plant is cultivated, 
its commercial importance, and the modes in 
which it is employed to gratify the senses, constitute, altogether, one of 
the most remarkable traits in the history of civilized man. Were we 
not so practically familiar with the business, we should doubtless be dis- 




Fig. 167. Flowers of Tobacco (Xicotiana Tabacum). 



260 



WEEDS AXD USEFUL PLAXTS. 



posed to regard the vrhole story of the tobacco trade, and the uses made 
of the herb, as an absurd and extravagant fable. In view of the facts 
and ch'cumstauces, it does seem like sheer afiectation, on our part, to 
pretend to be astonished at the indulgence of the Chinese, and other 
Asiatics, in the use of Opium. The habitual use of Tobacco is always 
more or less injurious to the system — especially the nervous system ; 
and in many instances it is highly deleterious. speak from long ob- 
servation, and a personal experience of many years, having smoked and 
cheu-ed the herb, until its pernicious effects compelled me'to es-chew it 
altogether. 

Order LIII. GENTIAN A' OE^. (Gentian Famil.y.) 

Smootli herbs with a colorless Utter juice, opposite, entire and sessile leaves without stijndes ; 
fiowers regular ; stamens as many as and alternate with the lobes of the corolla, which are 
convolute in the bud ; a 1-celled ovary with 2-parietal placentae ; the fruit a 2-valveQ^ 
septicidal many-seeded pod ; seeds with fleshy albumen. 

An Order containing manj- beautiful species — a number of them valuable for their 
bitter, tonic properties ; among which may be mentioned the Gentian of the shops (Geu- 
tiaua lutea, L.). Few or none, however, are of any agricultual importance. 

1. SABBAT'IA, Centaury. 

[Named after Liberatiis Sabbaii ; an Italian Botanist.] 

Calyx 5 - 12'parted. Corolla sub-rotate, — the limb 5 - 12-lobed, convo- 
lute (twisted to the right) in the bad. Stamens as many as the corolla- 
lobes ; anthers erect, opening by a longitudinal fissure, finally recurved. 
' Style 2-parted, — the branches stigmatiferous, at length spirally twisted. 
Capsule 2-valved, septicidal, l-celled, with spongy plar^^'ut^ along the 
sutures. Biennials or annuals with slender stems and handsome flovrers 
in a cymose panicle. 

1. S, angula'ris, Pw-sh. Stem acutely 4-augled, somewhat winged ; 
leaves ovate, sessile and amplexicaul ; calyx-segments mostly 5, linear- 
lanceolate, acute, much shorter than the corolla ; corolla mostly 5-parted, 
the lobes ob ovate, rather obtuse. 
Angular Sabbatia. Centaury. 

Root annual? (biennial, JDC). Stem 12-18 inches high, often bushy with numerous 
branches. Leaves about an inch long, 5-nerved. i^Zorcers sometimes composed of 6 parts. 
Corolla rose red, with a pale green star in the centre. Capsule oblong-ovoid, mucronate, 
with a keeled suture on each side. Seeds rugosely pitted, under a lens. 

Sterile old fields : Canada to Carohna. Fl. July - August. Fr. September. 

Obs. This plant has but little connection vrith agriculture ; yet it is- 
so generally and deservedly popular as a bitter and tonic medicint., that 
it would seem desirable for every farmer to be able to identify it, and 
therefore I have inserted it. There is another plant in the South and 
\ West belonging to this tribe, which is highly commended for similar 
roperties, namely, the AVild Colombo, (Fra'sera Carolinen'sis, Walt.) 
do not deem it necessary, however, to do more than mention it here. 



MILK^^'EED FAMILY. 



261 



Order LIT. ASCLEPIADA'CE^. (Milkweed Family.) 

Plants mostly with mill-y-juice. and entire, usually opposite or whorled (rarely scattered) 
Zeares •without stipules ; Jimcers regular, 5-meroiis and 5-androus : loles cf corolla mostly 
■vah-ate in the bud ; tilaments united into a tube -which encloses the pistils, the tube 
augmented by a croim of 5 lobes or scales, at summit : the anthers united to the stigma 
and the poTlen in pecuhar vrax-hke masses as described under the first genus ; fiiiit a 
follicle, seeds compressed and mostly margined and comose. 

An Order remarkable for the pecuhar structure of the flovrers (well illustrated in Prof. 
Gray"s admirable text-book), and containing a number of plants interesting to the botan- 
ist, though but few of any economical value. 

1. ASCLE'PIAS, X. Milkweed. 

[The Greek name of ^.iculajnus ; to whom the genus is dedicated.] 

Calyx deeply 5-parted, persistent ; diyisioris small, spreading. Corolla 
5-parted, reflexed. deciduous. Crown of 5 hooded lobes, seated on the 
tube of the stamens, each containing an incurTed horn. Stamens 5. in- 
serted on the base of the corolla ; filaments united into a tube, which 
encloses the pistil ; ardhers adherent to the stigma, each with two verti- 
cal cells, tipped with a membranaceous appendage, each cell containing 
a flattened pear-shaped and waxy poUen-rnass ; the two contiguous pol- 
len-masses of adjacent anthers forming pairs which hang by their slen- 
der summits from five small black shining cloven glands, at the angles 
of the stigma. Ovaries 2, tapering into very short styles ; the large'de- 
pressed 5-angled fleshy stigma common to the two. Follicles 2, one of 
them often abortive, soft, ovate or lanceolate. Seeds flat, margined, im- 
bricated downwardly all over the large placenta which separates from 
the suture at maturity, furnished with a long tuft of silky hairs at the 
hilum. Pe cnnial herbs, with thick and deep roots ; peduncles terminal, 
or mostly lateral and between the petioles, bearing simple, many-flowered 
umbels. 

1. A. Conm'ti, Decaisne. Leaves elliptic-ovate, acute, tomentose be- 
neath ; pods clothed with soft spinous projections and woolly. 

CoKxuTus's AscLEPiAS. Silkwecd. Mihkweed. 

S'ernZ-i feet high, stout, somewhat branched, smoothish. Leaves 6-8 inches lon.^, 
acute or with a slight point ; contracted at the base into a short but distinct peLide. 
Vmlels 2-4, axillary near the summit of the stem : common peduncles 2-3 inche.? long ; 
pedicels 1 -1;2 inches in length, with lance-linear tracts at base ; fioiceis numerous, sweet- 
scented, many of them abortive : divisions of the corolla ovate, greenish-purple, about 
one-fourth the length of the pedicels ; lioods of the crown ovate, obtuse, with a lobe or tooth 
on each side of the stout claw-like horn : follicles few, 3-5 inches long. 

Rich soils : common. PZ. June. JV. September. 

Obs. This, the most common among otir numerous species of the genus, 
has recently been noticed by a "Western correspondent of one of our agri- 
cultural papers, as a most troublesome weed, and one exceedingly diiScuIfc 
to exterminate. It does not bear this character in the Easf. TVhen 
well established in a fertile soil, its long deep roots will doubtless bo 
exceedingly difficult to extirpate. The seeds are readily waited to a 
^eat distance by means of the copious silky hairs. The plant, when 



•262 



AXD USEFUL PT.AXTS. 




beantifully silky hairs of tlie seeds. The plant vras name J - 

hx LixxjEus, who perhaps thought it vras a Syrian plant : but ic a i 

exclusively American species. 



Fjg. !168. The common Milkweed (Asclcpias Cornuti) reducel. 169 A separate flQr\ 
enlarged. 170. PO'is, reduced. 



MILKWEED FAMULI 



263 



2. A. tubero'sa, L. Hirsute ; not lactescent : ?tem ascendlDg. divari- 
catelv branched at summit, leafy ; leaves oblong-lanceolate or linear- 
oblong, mostly alternate-scattered, lowest opposite, subsessile : umbels 
numerous, lateral and terminal, often forming a spreading corymb. 

TuEEEOus AscLEPiAS. Butterfiy-\Teed. Pleurisy-root. 

Whole plant mostly very hairy. Boot perennial ; large, tuberous. Stem about 2 feet 
hish, generallv more" or less oblique or leaning ; branches spreading and often recurved. 
i€ai'es'2 - 4 inches long, and half an inch to an inch wide, scattered or rarely opposite, 
varying from lance-hnear to oblong and oblanceolate, acute or obtuse, mostly obtuse at 
base, on very short petioles. Sfamineal croicn bright orange color, — the hoods erect, 
lance-oblong,' distinct, abruptly narrowed below, the infolded margins with each an obtuse 
tooth near the base ;' lioms subterete, tapering to a point, incurved. Follicles aboat 4 
inches long, somewhat ventricose, acuminate, tcmentose-pubescent. 

Old fields', pastures and fence-rows : throughcut the United States. FI. July -August. 
Fr. Sept. -October. 

Obs. This is inclined to make its appearance in our cultivated grounds, 
or pasture fields ; and, though a rough, coarse vreed, is not a troublesome 
one. When in bloom, the bright orange-colored umbels of this species 
are Cjuite showy. The root on^ce had a reputation for being medicinal ; 
but it is now generally neglected. 

2. EXSLEX'IA, Nutt. Exslenia. 

[Deilicated to Enslen. an Austrian botanist, who collected in the Southern States early in 
the present cent'ory.] 

Calyx 5-parted. Corolla 5-parted ; the divisions erect, ovate-lanceolate. 
Crown of 5 free membranaceous leaflets, which are truncate or obscurely 
lobed at the apex, where they have a pair of flexuous awns united at 
their base. Anthers nearly as in Asclepias ; pollen-masses oblong, obtuse 
at both ends, fixed below the summit of the stigma to the descending 
glands. Pods oblong-lanceolate, smooth. Seeds with a tuft as in Ascle- 
pias. Perennial twining herhs. 

1. E. al'bida, yutt. Leaves opposite, ovate-heart-shaped, acute, long- 
petioled ; flowers small, in raceme-like clusters on slender axillary pe- 
duncles. 

Whitish Exslenia. 

stem. S -12 feet high, climbing, slightly pubescent or smooth. Lmves 3-5 inches long 
and about the same in width, with a broad sinus at base, somewhat pubescent on the 
nerves below ; petiole equalling or exceeding the blade in length. Peduncles about half an 
Inch long, sometimes several from the same axils jfloicen greenish or yellowish-white, 
sweet-scented, on pedicels about their own length. 

Alluvial soil. "West and Southwest. July- September. 

Obs. This plant is introduced on account of the statement of Doctor 
Short, the distinguished botanist, of Kentucky, who says that it is a 
great nuisance on the farms along the Ohio river. TTe are not informed 
whether it has acc^uired a popular name. ^ 



264 



WEEDS AND USEFUL PLAXITS. 




Calyx 4-lobsd or 4-tootlied, mostly persistent, rarely obsolete. Corolla 4rCleft, or of 4 dis- 
tinct petals — sometimes wanting ; sestiyation mostly valvate. Stamens usually 2 Frxit 
various — baccate, drupaceous, caps.'ilar or samaroid, — 2-celled, and by abortion ofton 
1-celled and 1 - 2-seeded. Seeds pendulous^ mostly albuminous. 

A small but interesting Order. Olives and Olive oil are afforded by the genus (Olea) 
which is the type of the family, — the pericarp, instead of the seed, yielding the oil. The 
Manna of the shops is derived from a species of Ash. 



Fig. lU. A branch of Enslenia albida. 



OLIVE FAMILY. 



265 



1. STErs~'GA. L. Lilac. 

[From the Latin. Syrinx, a pipe : from --'it brandies filled with pith.j 

Calyx 4-toothed. persistent. Corolla salver-sliapecl. with a tube much 
longer than the calyx : /;r/i5 -i-parted. Stamcn^s 2. C/^j^i'.'.'e ovate-lance«> 
late, compressed. 2-celled. 4-seeded. Seeds narrowly winged : a'binnen 
fleshy. Srirubs with the terminal bnds in pairs, opposite, eniire, petioled 
leaves, and lilac or white /ai',-f/-.s in thick jjanicks. 

1. S. ttlga'eis, L. Leaves cordate, smooth ; limb of the corolla some- 
what concave. 

CoiDiox Syeixga. Lilac. 

Cditirated. Xative of Persia, Hani-:,:-y. ^v:. ..lay -.J:in?. 

Obs. This, one of the commonest ornamental shrubs,, is frequently seen 
in old ,g-ardens. forming dense clumps 10-20 feet high. It throws up 
suckers abundantly from the root, and by this means is easily propa- 
gated. There are several well-marked varieties, differing in the compact- 
ness of the flower clusters and the color of the flowers, which vary from 
deep purple to white. ^ 

2. S. Pes'sica. Z. Leaves lanceolate, acute, frequently divided or pin- 
natifid ; Kmb of corolla flattish. 

Peesiax Syeixga. Persian Lilac. 

Cultivated. Native of Persia. 

Obs. A much more delicate species than the common Lilac, growing 
to the height of 6 - 8 feet. There are two forms, one with entire leaves 
(var. ixtegeifolia). and the other fvar. lacixiata) with the leaves, even 
on the same branch, presenting all the forms between perfectly entire 
and pinnately divided ; a most interesting illustration of the true nature 
of pinnatifid leaves. The flower-clusters in both varieties are more 
slender than those of the preceding species. ^ 

2. LIGUS'TEOI, Tourncf. Peivet. 

[The Latin classical name.] 

Calyx with a short tube, -i-toothed. deciduous. Corolla funnel-form, the 
limb 4-parted : lobes ovate, obtuse. Stamens 2, inserted on the tube of 
the corolla, included. Style very short ; stigma bifid, obtuse. Berry 
globose, 2-ceiled ; cells 2- i or by abortion l-i seeded. Shrubs. Leeives 
opposite, simple, entire. Flcivers in terminal thyrsoid panicles. 
1. L. vulga'ee. L. Leaves elliptic-lanceolate, acute or obtuse, mucronu- 
late, glabrous ; panicle compound, contracted. 
Co>Diox LiGUSTEu:.i. Privet. Prim. 

Fr. Le Troene. Germ. Die Gemeine Piheinweide. Span. ^Uheiia. 

stem 6-8 or 10 feet hig-h, much branched : branches opposite. Leaves 1-3 inches long, 
varying from lanceolate and acute, to elliptic or oblanceolate and obt'^ise. on short petioles. 
Ccr-Ala white. Berrie? black (rarely greeni-h-'T;-!.;: • . v.-h-:n mr.t'ire. 

■^'ay-sides, fence-rnv,-;. &:c. : introduced. X ■ ; ii ir' •, Fh J'r. October. 

12 



260 



WEEDS AND USEFUL PLANTS. 



ObL Introduced for the purpose of liedgiog-, for whicli it is now 
used to a less extent than formerly. It has become completely natu- 
ralized, and is found plentifully in New England, New York and 
Pennsylvania. The European Olive (Olea Europgea,) so valuable for its 
oil, belongs to this tribe. It grows and perfects its fruit in the grounds 
around the old Jesuit Missions in Southern California, and might doubt- 
less be profitably cultivated in the Southern Atlantic States where there 
is a native species, Olea Americana, a small tree which has the popular 
name of Devil-wood." * 

3. OHIONAN'THUS, L. Felxge-tree. 

[Greek, cMon, snow, and anthos, a flower ; from its snow-wliite blossoms.] 

Calyx very small, 4-parted, persistent. Corolla of 4 long linear petals, 
slightly connected at base. Stamens 2, (sometimes 3 - 4) , very short. 
Stigma notched. Drupe fleshy, globular ; nut striate, 1-seeded ; seed 
without albumen. Small trees ; buds remarkably 4-cornered and pyra- 
midal ; leaves entire ; jlowers in loose pendulous trichotomous racemes. 
1. C, Virgin'ica, L. Leaves oval or obovate lanceolate, sub-cori- 
aceous, smoothish ; racemes terminal and axillary. 
Virginian Chionanthus. Fringe-tree. 

stem 10 - 20 feet high, with spreading branches. Leaves 4-6 inches long, acute at each 
end ; petioles about half an inch in length. Racemes 3-4 inches long, somewhat pancicu- 
late,--the terminal pedicels by threes. Petals white, nearly an inch long. Drupes of a 
livid blackish color when mature. 

reunsylvania and southward. June. 

Obs. The singular beauty of this ornamental little tree is beginning to 
be appreciated by our people ; and it is consequently making its ap- 
pearance in the yards and lawns of all persons of taste. The mature 
fruit has a remarkably disagreeable bitterish taste. 

4. FEAX'INUS, Tournef. Ash. 

[The classical Latin name of the Ash.] 

Flowers polj^gamous or (in our species) dioecious. Calyx small and 4- 
cleft, toothed, or entire or obsolete. Corolla of 2-4 oblong petals or 
(in the North American species) wholly wanting. Stamens 2, sometimes 
3 or 4 ; anthers linear or oblong, large. Style single ; stigma 2-cleft. 
Fruit a 1 or 2-celled samara (key fruit), flattened, winged at the apex. 
Trees, with petioled pinnate leaves ; the mid^W fioivers in crowded panicles 
or racemes from the axils of last year's leaves. 

* Fruit winged from the apex only, barely margined or terete towards the 
base; calyx minute, persistent ; leaflets stalked. 

1, F. America'na, ^. Leaflets 7-9, petiolulate, ovate or lance-ob- 
long, acuminate, entire or obsoletely dentate, glaucous beneath ; petioles 
and young branches terete, smooth ; buds with a rufous velvety pubes- 
cence ; panicles compound, loose, axillary ; samaras terete and margin- 



OLIYE FAMILY. 



267 



less below, above extended into a lanceolate, oblanceolate or wedge-linear 
wing. 

Amekican Feasinus. White Asb. 

(Sfem 40-60 and so feet high, and 2-3 feet in diameter, — the young branches smootD 
and dotted with white specks. Leaflets 2-4 inches long, — at flrst downy, finally smooth 
and green above, pubescent and glaucous beneath. Flowers with a minute 3 or 4-toothed 
cal.vx. Sainara terete at base, with a narrowish lance-oblong wing. 

Woodlands : throughout the United States, — but particularly in the Northern States. 
Ft. Mav. Fr. 

Obs. The timber of this tree is highly valuable, and much used by 
wheelwrights, coachmakers, &c. It also makes excellent fuel. 

2. F. pubes'cens, Lam. Leaflets 7-9, petiolulate, elliptic-lanceolate, 
acuminate, subserrate ; petioles and young branches velvety-pubescent ; 
samaras linear-lanceolate. 

Pubescent Fraxinus. Eed Ash. 

stem 30 - 50 or 60 feet high, and 12-18 inches in diameter. Leaflets 2-3 inches long, — 
more lanceolate and narrower than in the preceding — more pubescent beneath — and the 
petiolules shorter. Samaras acute at the base, flattish and 2-edged, the edges gradually 
dilated into the long oblanceolate or linear-lanceolate wing. 

Low grounds, along streams : throughout the United States. Fl. May. Fr. 

Obs. This has considerable resemblance to the preceding species ; but, 
besides the pubescence of the young branches, it is a smaller and less 
valuable tree. 

3. F. vir'idis, Mx. f. Glabrous throughout ; leaflets 5-9, ovate or 
oblong-lanceolate, often wedge-shaped at the base and serrate above, 
bright green on both sides ; fruit acute at the base, striate, 2-edged or 
margined. 

Greex Fagus. Green Ash. 

Small or middle-sized tree. 

Along streams : New England to Wisconsin and southward. 

Fruit winged all round the seed-bearing portion ; calyx wanting, at 
least in the fertile flowers, which are entirely naked. 

4. F. sambucifo'lia, Lani. Leaflets 1-11, sessile, ovate-lanceolate, 
acuminate, serrate, somewhat rounded and unequal at base, hirsutely 
bearded beneath on the midrib and in the angles of the nerves ; flowers 
naked ; samaras oblong, obtuse at each end. 

Sambucus-leaved Fkaxinus. Black Ash. Water Ash. 

stem 30-40 or 50 feet high, and 12-18 inches in diameter ; young branches glabrous, 
green, sprinkled with black eUiptic dots or warts. Leaflets 3-4 inches long, rugose and 
shining above, with tufts of tawny pubescence in the angles of the nerves beneath'. 
Samaras broadish, of nearly uniform width. 

Low grounds, along rivulets, &c. : Northern and Middle States. Fl. April. Fr. 

Obs. The wood is very tough and easily separable into layers which 
are used for making baskets, chair-bottoms, &c. There are several other 
species in the Southern and Western States, but I have not judged it 
expedient to swell the work by a particular notice of them. 



268 



T^'EEDS AXD TSEFUL PLA:^7T3. 



DITISIOX in. 

APET'ALOUS EX'OGEXS. 

Corolla none ; tlie floral envelopes being in a single series (calyx), or 
sometimes wanting altogether. 

Order LYI. AEISTOLOCHIA'CE^. (BiEimvoRT Familt.) 

Herlis or shrulhy ]ilants, — sometimes nearly sfe?7iZess, sometimes tvAning and dimming; 
leaves alternate, simple, entire, more or less cordate at base, petiolate, otten with leaf-like 
stipules; calyx-tube more or less coherent with the ovary, — the torder mostly 3-lohed, 
valvatc in the bud ; stamens 6-12, more or less united with the style ; anthers adnate, ex- 
trorse ; cn-a?-!/ mostly 6-celled ; /rwii a many-seeded 6-celled pod'or berry ; seeds ^nth a 
large raphe and a minute embryo in a fleshy albumen. 

1. AEISTOLO'CniA, Tournef. Birthwort. 

[A Greek name, — having reference to the medical virtues of the plant.] 

Calyx colored, tubular, — the lower portion adherent to the oyary, yen- 
tricose above the ovary, straiglit or curved ; limb oblique, 2 - 3-lobed, 
— the lower lobe somewhat ligulate or exteaded to a lip. Stamens 6 ; 
the sessile anthers wholly adnate to the back of the short and fleshy 
3-6-lobed or angled stigma. Capsule naked, 6-valved. Erect or 
twining j^erennials with lateral or axillary greenish or lurid-purple flow- 
ers. Capsule coriaceous, 6-celled, septicidally 6-valved. Seeds numerous 

1, A, Serpenta'ria, L. Stem erect or ascending, flexuouse ; leaves 
lance-oblong, acuminate, entire, cordate (and sometimes auriculate) at 
base ; peduncle sub-radical ; calyx-tube much bent. 

SxAKE-ROOT Aristolochia. Virginia Snake-root, 

Boot perennial, of numerous rather coarse fibres. Stem herbaceous. 9-15 inches high, 
simple or branched from the base, slender, anguiar, pubescent, leafy above, nearly 
naked or with small abortive leaves below. Leaves 2-4 or 5 inches long : petioles one- 
fourth of an inch to near an inch long. Flowers rather large, few or solitary, near the 
base of the stem, and often concealed beneath dead leaves, on a flexuose bra'cteate pe- 
duncle 1-2 inches in length. Calyx a dull purplish brown, subcoriaceous, angularly 
bent, gibbous at the angle, — ^the hmb dilated and somewhat 3-lobed. Capsule turbinate 
or roundish-obovoid, somewhat fleshy, pubescent. 

Rich woodlands : throughout the United States. Fl. June. Fr. July -August. 

Obs. This littls plant is to be found in almost every woodland, where 
the soil is good ; and its medicinal value, as an aromatic stimulant, ren- 
ders it desirable that every person should know or be enabled to recog- 
nize it. For this reason I have been induced to give it a place here. 

Another species A. Sipho, L'Her., the Pipe Vine, or Diitchman'a 
Pipe, is a native of the ATest and South. It is a tall climber, and ia 
often cultivated as an ornamental vine. Its singularly curved flowers, 
resembling a Dutch Pipe, are very interesting and curious, but the 



BIETHTVOET FAMLY. 



269 




coarscDGss of ns foliage — the full-grown leaves being a foot in breadth, 
renders it less beautiful than many others of our native climbers. 

The Canada Snake-root, or Wild Ginger, Asarum Canadense, L., 
belongs to this family ; it is common in rich woodlands, and is readily 
recognized by having a single pair of broad kidney-shaped leaves, and a 
single large brownish-purple flower borne in the fork of the long peti- 
oles. The root, or, more properly, root-stock, is highly pungent and 
aromatic ; it is largely collected to supply the drug trade ; its taste 
Bomewhat resembles that of ginger, and it is used as a substitute for it 
in some parts of the country. * 



Fig. 172. Yirgicia .Snakeroot (Aristolochia Serpentaria). a. Apod. 



270 



OaDZB LVn. PKTTOLACGA'CE. 



jiovje": 

or 5c::i-;: - 
A small Or; 



1. PHYTOLACCA. P: 



L P. derail 'dra, I^- 

oblong : berries l'>c^ 

DscAXDEors Pzrr : i 



"irpie; leaves OTaie- 

- L rTiy. Gaiget 
Yrr^3 camun. 

- ; ^ - : ;■ : —pi, stout. 



::^:etic; aimtlr ::l:t-:t :J 



<j-:i.zs LVHL CSEYOP'jI'IA' 



ISIS ; 
til?- 



GOOSEFOOT FAMILY. 



271 



1. GHEXOPO'DIUM, X. Goosefoot. 

[Gr. Chen, a goose, and Pons, podos, a foot ; in allusion to the form of the leaves.] 

Flowers perfect. Calyx S-cleft, rarely 2 - 4-cleft or parted, witli the 
lobes sometimes keeled, but not appendaged nor becoming succulent, 
more or less enveloping the depressed fruit. Stamens mostly 5 ; filament 
filiform. Styles 2, rarely 3. Seed horizontal (sometimes vertical in Xo. 
3.). lenticular ; embryo partially or fully coiled round the mealy albumen. 
Weeds, mostly annuals, usually vrith a white mealiness or glandular. 
Flowers sessile in small clusters collected in spiked panicles, blooming 
throughout the summer. 

* Leaves strongly and sharply-toothed (mealiness obscure or none), on slen- 

der petioles ; calyx-lches slightly keeled. 

1. C. hy'bridum. L. Leaves green on both sides, cordate-ovate, acumi- 
nate, angularly and remotely dentate ; racemes loosely panictilate, leafless. 
Hybrid Chexopodioi. Maple-leaved Goosefoot. 

stem. 2-4 feet high, rather slender, angular and striate, much branched. Leaves 2-4 
inches long, thin, bright green ; petioles 1-2 inches in length. Flowers paniculate, — the 
sub-divisions cymose ; terminal panicle long and loose, with divaricate branches. The 
smooth calyx-lobes keeled. Seed sharp-edged, the thin pericarp adhering closeh^ to it. 

About dwellings and along streams : common. Native of Europe. June - August. 

Obs. A common weed with a heavy odor, like that of Stramonium. 

* * Leaves tootlied, repand-angled, or sometimes 
nearly entire, more or less white-mealy us 
well as the fiowers ; cal yx-lobes distinctl y 
keeled. 

2. C. aVbuWi, L. Leaves rhomboid-ovate, 
erose-dentate, entire and tapering towards 
the base, — the upper ones oblong-lanceolate, 
entire ; racemes erect, branched, somewhat 
leafy. 

"White Chenopodium. Lamb's Quarters. 
Goosefoot. 

Fr. Anserine blanche. Germ. Der Gaense- 

fuss. 2.1^ 

Root annual. Stem 2>-b or 6 feet high, rather stout, 
angular, often striped with yellow and green, some- 
times purplish, branched. ^Leaves 1-3 inches long, 
covered with very minute fiat or cup-like scales (espe- 
cially on the unfl^^r surface), which give them a glau- 17 5 
cous or mealv aypearance ; pe?ioZes 1-2 or 3 inches 
long. Flowers in pulverulent clusters. Calyx depressed, 

5-angled by the prominent keels of the incurved segments, greenish and glaucous. 
,Se*i dark purple or nearly black, lenticular, smooth and shining. 






Fig 1V3. .Ui enlarged flower of the Common Goosefoot (Chenopodiurn album.) 174. The 
same divided. 175. A section through the seed, sh'' wing the coiled embryo oatside the 
»lbuiEei.\ 



272 



WEEDS AXD USEFUL PLANTS. 



Gardens, j'ards, and waste places : introduced. Native of Europe. Fl. Julj" - A ugust 
F): Oct. 

Obs. This coarse and rather homely weed has become very extensivel3> 
naturalized throughout the Uuited States, and is quite troublesome in 
gardens. The young plant is sometimes used as a pot-herb, but would 
be gladly dispensed with by all neat gardeners and farmers. 

■ * * 3Iore or less viscid glandular, with a strong balsamic odor, not mealy ; 
embryo not forming a complete ring. 
3. C. ambrosioi'des, L. Leaves oblong, acute at each end, remotely 
dentate ; racemes interrupted, leafy. 
AMBR0SL4.-LIKE Chexopodium. Mexicau Tea. 

Annual. Stem 1-2 feet liigli, much branched, angular. Leaves 1-2 inches long, — 
those on the stem narrowed to kpsliole, those on the branches and racemes lance-linear, 
mostly entire, subsessile. Flowers in interrupted sessile clusters, on slender axillary 
leafv branches. 

Var. anthehninticum. Gray. Perennial {?). Leaves more strongly toothed, the lower 
sometimes almost laciniate pinnatitid. Spikes mostly leafless. 
Naturalized from tropical America. 

Obs. Most authors consider C. ambrosioi' des and C. anthelmin'ticum 
as distinct species ; we follow Gray in placing the latter as a variety 
of the former. Both forms are common in waste places, especially 
southward ; they have both a strong odor which is most powerful and 
disagreeable in the var. anthelmin'ticum, which is popularly known as 
Worm-seed. The whole plant contains a volatile oil to which the odor 
is due. This is most abundant in the seed, or rather in the utricle 
vrhieh surrounds it. The seeds themselves, and the oil which they yield 
are well-known and effective worm-destroying medicines. 

There are several other species of this genus to be met with, especially 
near the coast, but they are not sufficiently common to be admitted 
here. ^ * 

2. BETA, Tournef. Beet. 

[Celtic, Beti, red ; or from its fruit resembling the Greek letter B {Beta).'] 

Calyx urceolate, 5-cleft, finally indurated at base — the lobes remaining 
unchanged. Ovary dej^ressed; stigmMS 2. Utricle immersed in the base 
of the calyx and covered by the lobes. Seed horizontal. Herbaceous, 
with a large fleshy root formed of concentric zones. Flowers glome- 
rate in spike? or paniculate racemes. 

1. B. vulga'ris, L. Smoothish ; greenish purple ; lower leaves ovate- 
oblong, wavy ; upper ones lance-ovate : flowers in dense sessile axillaiy 
clusters, interruptedly spicate. 
Common Beta. Beet. Garden-beet. Sugar-beet. 
Fr. Bette-rave. Germ. Gemeiner Mangold. Span. Acelga. 

Root biennial, fleshy, large (often 3-4 inches in diameter and more than a foot long) 
terete, tapering downwards, deep purple or yellowish — exhibiting, on a transvei'se section, 
c'jncentric layers, which seem to have some relation to the number and size or vigor off 



GOOSEPOCT FAillLY. 



273 




the radical leaves — ^perhaps severally formed and nourished hy them. Slem 2-4 feet 
high, sulcate-angled, somewhat paniculately branching. liadical-leaves 6-12 inches long ; 
petioles 4-8 inches long, succulent, channeled above ; stem-leaves lance-ovate, acute, petio- 
late, smaller as they ascend. CaZi/z purplish-brovm, fleshy at base, finally indurated or 
externally corky — the segments keeled, incurved and subsaccato at apex. Seed depressed, 
cochleate-orbicular, loosely farinaceous, enveloped in a purple membrane and lodged in a 
bony cell at the base of the calj-x. 
Gardens and lots : cultivated. Native of Southern Euroi^e, Fl. July. Fr. September. 



Fig. 176. Summit of a branch of VTormseed (Chenopodium ambrosioides, var. anthel 
minlicum) . 

12* 



274 



WEEDS AXD rSLTUL PLAXTS, 



Gbs. "Very general".;" ' :;d for its fine : : —hieli 

there are several var: That one caEed • ~ 1-: — ^v:-"_i a 

pale, yellowish root — is ex:v:>: ' : :':''"a:ed, on the o ::::::::::: ci Eu- 
rope, for the purpose of in:.l: '. _ - ... v. — ...id has bee*:: 7 tried ia 
this country: but while we have tl:.^ .■^^ugar-niaple and Sugar-cane to 
supply us, it is not probable the Beet will be much relied upon, for that 
object. A large rooted variety of B. Ckla, L. (a nearly allied species), 
called Mangel Wurtzel, or Scarcity Boot, is sometimes cultivated for 
stock, — and is probably entitled to more r;:'::.::on than it has yet 
received from our farmers — who are not gci. ■: ./.; ;\^rtial to the culture 
of root crops. 

3. BLI'TUM, Tournif. Bute. 

[The ancient Greek and Latia name of some pot-herl).] 

Caylx 3-5-parted. either unchanged or (in the species here r:-:::-?:! be- 
coming berry-Iike in frait, not appendaged. Sta7nens 1-': 
filiform. Styles, or stigmas, 2. Seed vertical, compres.- : 1 : ular; 
the m^r?/o coiled into a ring quite around the albn'T.r::. Hr ^j -^^dth 
petioled triangular, or halberd-shaped, and mostly sinuate-io jiiied uzves. 

1. B. capita 'turn, L. Stem ascending, branching ; leaves triangular- 
ha?tate, acute, sinuately toothed : flowers interniptedly spiked : calyx 
pulpy and bright-red in fruit. 
Clusteeed Blitum. Strawberry Blite. 

Annual, about a foot long, diffusely t)ranc]ied. Flojva'S in dense rcnndisli clusters 

wliich are collected towards the summit of tlie liranches. 

Oa recently turned grounds and dry plac-es, especially westward. June. Also a native 
of Europe. 

Obs. We are not informed whether this is a troublesome weed, but as it 
is rather common in some places, and as it must, from the strawberry-like 
appearance of its ripe fruit, attract the notice of the observing farmer, 
we give it a place. 

4. SPIXA'CIA, Touriief. Spixach. 

[Latin, Spina, a thorn ; the covering of the fruit being often prickly.] 

Flowers DicEcious : Stam. Fl. Calyx 4-5-parted, — the lobes equal. 
Pistillate Fl. Calyx ventricose-tubular, 2 - 3-toothed. Ovary ovoid ; 
styles 4, elongated, filiform. Akene included in the turgid indm-ated 
calyx, wliich is often 2- 3-horned on the back. vertical, compress- 

ed ; enibryo annular, surrounding the farinaceous albumen. Merhaceous : 
fiowers axillary, glomerate, — the staminate ones in racemose-paniculate 
clusters. 

1. S. olera'cea, Miller. Leaves petiolate, hastate-lanceolate, often ii>- 
cised at base, or sagittate and entire. 
PoT-HEUB Spixacia. Spinach, or Spmage. 



a:jiaeaxih fa:,illy. 



275 



Fr. Epinard des potagers. Germ. Der Spinat. Span. Espinaca. \ 

Root annual. Skrm 18 inches - 2 feot ttigli. somewhat hranched, or often simple. Leavez 
2-4 inches long, cuneately tapering to a pdiole 1 - 3 or 4 inches in length. Flowers green- 
ish. Fruit enclosed in the suhglobose persistent calyx, which is scarcely cleft at maturity, 
and often not prickly in the variety usually cultivated.' 

Gardens : cultivated. Native of the east. 17. June -July. Pr. Aug. -September. 

Ohs. This well-Iinown pot-herb — said to have been first brought into 
Spain by the Arabs — is frequently found in gardens, — especially in the 
vicinity "^of our cities and market towns. The Atriplsx hortensis, L., or 
Garden Orach, is another pot-herb, belonging to this tribe but I be- 
lieve it is not much cultivated in the United States. 



Order LIX. AMAEAXTA'CEJE. (Amaranth FAiiiLY.) 

Weed-hke herhs cJiaracters nearly as those of the preceding Order — ^but the flowers 
imbricated with dry scarious persistent hracis, which are usuahy colored, commonly 3 in 
number ; calyx of 3 - 5 sqmh, dry scarious and persistent. 

The plants of this Order are mostly natives of tropical countries, a number of them 
have become naturalized among us as weeds, while others are cultivated as ornamental 
plants. Among the best known of the latter are Love Lies Bleeding and Princes" Feather 
(both species of AiLiRA^•Tus) , Coxcomb (Celosu cristata), and the Globe Amaranth (Goii- 
pHKiTii Globosa). 

1. AMRAX'TUS, L. A^iaraxth. 

[Greek, a, not, maraino, to fade, and antlios, a flower ; the flowers not changing or fading. ( 

Flowers moncEcwv.shj 'polygamous : calyx of 3 - 5 sepals, mostly colored, 
slightly connected at base. Stamens 3-5, free. Stigmas 2-3. The fruit 
an ovoid, 1-seeded membranaceous utricle, 2-3-beaked at the apex, 
mostly longer than the calyx, opening transversely all round, — the uppei 
part falling away as a lid. Embryo coiled into a ring around the albu- 
meo. Coarse annual weeds, with minute Jlowers in axillary or terminal- 
spiked clusters. 

^ Flowers in terminal and axillary, simple or mostly panicled spikes, green ; 
stem unarmed ; stamens and sepals 5. 

1. A. hy'bridus, L. Bracts awned, sometimes tinged reddish ; fruit 2 - 
3-cleft at the apex, nearly smooth, not exceeding the calyx. 

Hybrid Amara^^tcs. Green Amaranth. Pigweed. 

Leaves ovate-oblong or ovate, acate, smooth bright green. S_piJces erect, obtuse, in 
loosely branched panicles, the terminal one longer. 

2. A. chlorosta' chys, Willd. Bracts awn-pointed, rather longer than the 
calyx, which is shorter than the 2 - 3-toothed rugose fruit. 
Greex-spiked Amaraxtus. 

Leaves bright deep green, long-petioled , ovate or rhomlic-ovate. S]^nkes ascending, acute 
crowded in an open panicle, the terminal one long and often nodding. 

3. A. retrojlex US, L. Bracts pointed, twice the length of the calyx, 
which is longer than the rugose fruit. 




FiG. ITT. Araarantus rctroflcxus. 



AMAEANXn FAMILY. 



277 



©vate or rhombic-ovate, undulate. Spikes crowded in a stiff panicle, acutish, more or 
less spreading, green, the terminal one shortish and erect. 

Obs. In the confusion which exists concerning this genus, vre have 
adopted above the characters given by Gray ; they are probably, as he 
suggests, all forms of one species. They are natives of tropical Amer- 
ica, and are exceedingly common about waste places and in cultivated 
soils, especially in the latter part of summer. 

Flcu-ers greenish; stem armed with spines home in pairs in the axih 
of the leaves ; stamens and sepals 5. 




4 A. spino'sus, L. Stem striate, smoothish, much branched ; leaves 
ovate-lanceolate ; axils spinose ; flowers pentandrous, in compound ter- 
minal and axillary spikes. 



Fig 178. The Thorny Amaranth (Amarantus spinosus), a branch. 



278 



WEEDS AND USEFUL TLANTS. 



Thorny Amarantus. 

Root annual. Stem 18 inches -2 or 3 feet bigh, often purple. Leaves 1-2 inches long 
rather obtuse, mucrouate, entire, roughish-dotted, with glaucous blotches beneath 
•pdioles about as long as the leaves, with 2 subulate spines at base, one fourth to half an 
inch in length. Flowers small, clustered in oblong terete, erect terminal and subterminal 
spikes. * 

Cultivated lots, waj'-sides and waste places : introduced. Xative of India. Fl. August. 
Fr. October. 

Ohs, This foreigner is naturalized in many places — especially in the 
unfrequented streets and outskirts of our sea-port towns, — and is grad- 
ually extending itself into the country. It is a vile nuisance wherever 
it prevails, and cannot be too sedulously guarded against. 
•K-^^ Flowers in close and small axillary dusters; stamens and sepals 3, 

or the former only 2. 
5. A. al'bus, L. Pale green and smooth, much branched ; leaves obo- 
vate and spatulate-oblong. emarginate, setaceously mucronate ; flowers 
triandrous, in small axillary clusters. ' 
White Amaeantus. 

Steml-1 or 3 feet high, rather stout, pale green or whitish, generally much branched 
— the principal branches near the base, spreading. Leaces half an inch to an inch and a 
half long, entire, narrovred at base to a slender peiioZe, one fourth of an inch to an inch 
and a half long. Flowers pale green, inconspicuous, m small axillary bracteate clusters ; 
hracU subulate-lanceolate, spinescently acuminate, longer than the flowers. 

Barn-yards, cultivated fields, &c. Fl. August, Fr. September. 

Ohs. A worthless common weed, considered by some as a native of 
this country, but it has all the appearance of a naturalized plant, and 
probably came from tropical America. 



Order LX. POLYGONA'CE^. (Buckwueat Family.) 

Herlts with alternate, usually entire, leaves, with stipules cohering and forming slimths 
(ochrese) around the stem above its swollen joints ; ^^otoers generally perfect, with a more 
or less persistent 3-6-cleft calyx ; stamens 4-12 inserted on the base of the calyx ; ovary 
1-celled, bearing '2-3styles, becoming akene-like in fruit. Seed smgle, erect, straight, with 
the embryo curved or straightish, on the outside of the albumen, or rarely in its centre. 
^Sepals mostly 5. , 
Embryo curved around one side of the albumen. Cotyledons slender 

or flat. 1. POLTGO>TJM. 

Embryo in the albumen. Cotyledons broad and twisted-plaited. 2. Fagopykcm- 
**Sepals 6. 

Fruit 3-angled, w'-ngless. 3. Rcjiex. 

Fruit 3-augled, winged at the angles. 4. Rhecji. 



1. POLY'GONUM, L. Kxot-weed. 

[Greek, Ppbjs, mmy, and Genu, a knee or joint ; the stem being much jointed.] 

Calyx oftep colored, embracing the fruit. Stamens 4-9, mostly 8. 
Ovary l-co^'ed, compressed or triquetrous ; styles 2-3, more or less 
united belo-v. Akenes lenticular or triquetrous, according as the styles 
are 2 or 3 ; embryo in a groove of the albumen, and curved half way 
around it. Flowers often with sheathing bracts; pedicels articulated. 



BUCKWHEAT FAMILY. 



2T9 



I 1. Stems more or less erect. 
Flowers in terminal racemes or spikes. 
f Sheaths salver-form. 

1. P. orienta'le, L. Tall ; hairy ; leaves ovate-acuminate ; sheaths salver* 
form, ciliate ; stamens 7. 

Oeiextal Polygonum. Eagged Sailor. Prince's Feather. 

Annual. (SZm 4-8 feet high, paniciilately branched above. Leaves 4-6 inches long, 
often sabcordate at base ; jieZio/es 1-2 inches in length, somewhat winged bj^ the decur- 
rence of the leaves ; stipules tubular with the border spreading or reflexed. Racemes 
numerous, 2-3 inches in length, nodding on hirsute peduncles. Flowers bright purple, 
rather large, crowded ; pedicels rather longer than the ciliate sheathing bracts. 
^ Gardens and waste grounds. Native of Asia. July - September. 

Obs. This showy species is sometimes cultivated, and has become 
sparingly naturalized. John Bartram probably refers to it, in a letter 
to Miss Golden, where he says : " The species of Persicary thee men- 
tions, is what TouRNEFORT brought from the three churches at the foot 
of Mount Ararat." 

f f Sheaths cylindrical, mt ciliate. 

2. P. Pennsylvan'icilin, L. Leaves lanceolate ; sheaths smooth, not 
ciliate ; spikes oblong, somewhat nodding, on glandular-hispid peduncles ; 
stamens 5-8. 

PeNNSYL VANI AN POLYGONUM. 

iJoof annual. Stem 2-3 or 4 feet high, smooth below, geniculate, with tumid nodes, 
paniculately branched above, — the branches glandular-hispid. Leaves 3-6 inches long ; 
petioles about half an inch long. Stipules scarious. not fringed at summit. Spikes numer- 
ous, rather large (1-2 inches long.) Flowers bright palish-purple or rose-colored, in 
crowded fascicles ; pedicels rather longer than the sheathing bracts. 

Moist grounds, waste places, &c. : throughout the United States. Fl. Julv- Aug. Fr. 
Sept. -Oct. 

Obs. This has much general resemblance to the following — usually 
growing in company with it — and equally worthless. It is, however, a 
stouter plant, and readily distinguished by the characters above noted. 
Iff Sheaths ciliate or fringed with bristles. 

3. P. Persica'ria, L. Leaves lanceolate, usually marked with a dark 
iunate or triangular spot near the middle ; sheaths somewhat pilose, 
ciliate at summit ; peduncles smooth ; stamens 6. 

Peach-leaved Polygonum. lady's thumb. Spotted Knot-weed. 
Fr. Persicaire. Germ. Flohkiaut. /Span. Persicaria. 

Root annual. Ste7)i 1-2 feet high, branching, smooth, often purplish. Leaven 2 - 4 m 
dies long, tapering at base to a short petiole. Stipules truncate, fringed with bristles one- 
fourth to one-third their length. Spikes about an inch long. Sepals purple or bright 
crimson. Fediccls about as long as the bracts. 

Waste places, road-sides, &c. : introduced. Native of Europe. Fl. Aug. Fr. Sept. - 
October. 

Obs. A very common weed about fa^'m houses, which should be kep{ 
in subjection by every neat farmer. 



280 



WEEDS AXD USEFUL TLAXTS. 




179 



4. P. Hydropi'per, L. Smooth, very acrid ; leaves lanceolate, pellucid- 
(lotted, wavy margined ; sheaths ciliate with shortish bristles ; racemes 
filiform, flaccid and nodding ; fascicles few-flowered, rather distant ; -lalyx 
glandular-dotted. 



Fig. 179. The Penn.sylvaniaa rolygonum (P. Pennsylvanicum.) 180. An ev^w-a?'* 
flower, opened. 



li'JCKWHEAT FA^ilLT. 



281 



Water-pepper Polygoxum. Water-pepper. Smartrweed. 

Annual. Steml-'2 feet high, more or less branched, sometimes decumbent, often pur- 
plish. Leaves 2-4 inches long, acute at each end, subsessile ; sheaths tubular, somewhat 
inflated, hairv, fringed with bristles. the length of the tube. Racemes 2-4 inches 

long, slender and interrupted, at first nodding, fmally erect; fascicles 2-4-flowered; 
Jioicers greenish with white edges ; pedicels proceeding from bristly-ciliate sheathing Iradis. 
Styles 2-0. Ac/ie?ui(?n flattish or obtusely triangular. 

Moist w-aste grounds : introduced from Europe. Aug. - Sept. 



Ohs. A Tvorthless weed, as most 
of the species are ; and it is, more- 
over, a highly acrid plant, some- 
times cansing obstinate ulcerative 
inflammation when incautiously ap- 
plied to the skin. The medical 
men of the Middle Ages highly 
extolled it for its remedial quali- 
ties, bu*L it is not used at present. 

^ " Flcwers axillary, 2-3 together. 

5. P. aviciila're, L- Stems pro- 
cumbent or spreading ; leaves ses- 
sile, lanceolate or oblong ; sheaths 
lacerate ; stamens 5 - 8 ; akenes 
tricjuetrous. 

Bird Polygoxum. Knot-grass. 
Goose-grass. Door-weed. 

Annual. Stem Q-12 inches long, much 
branched and spreading, smooth. Lea.res 
% an inch to an inch long. Stipules whit 3. 
Floivers green, edged with white, and often 
tinged with pur'.ile'. small, subsessile. Fruit 
enclosed in the calyx, dull, minutely v,-rin- 
kled or granular under a lens. 

Yards and foot-paths. June-Au^. 

Obs. This humble weed is thor- 
oughly naturalized, and is one of 
the commonest everywhere about 
dwellings. There are several vari- 
eties, one of which, var. erectum, 
is quite cx)mmon in rich shadv 
places ; its stems are nearly erect, 
1-2 inches in length. 




- 2 or 3 feet high, with oval leaveo 



Fig. ISl A branch of the Halberd-leaved Tcar-thumb (Polygonum arifolium.) 



282 



WEEDS AND USEFUL PLANTS. 



§ 2. Stem weal, not twining hut somewhat climbing or supported on other 

plants by means of the prickles on the angles of the stem and petioles, 
6. P. arifo'liuni, L. Leaves halberd-shaped, acuminate, on long 
petioles ; clusters racemose, few-flowered ; peduncles glandular-hispid ; 
stamens 6 ; styles 2 ; fruit lenticular. 

Arum-leaved PolygonuzvI. Halberd-leaved Tear-thumb. 

Root annual. Stem 3-6 feet long, rather coarse, grooved-angled, branching, often pur- 
ple. Leaves 2-5 inches long, and 1-3 inches wide,— the midrib and nerves hirsute ; pe- 
holes half an mch to 3 inches long, retrorsely aculeate. Stipules ciliate. Calyx often of 4 
connected sepals, purple, with the margins pale red. 

^Swampy low grounds, along rivulets, &c. : throughout the United States. Fl. Aug. 

Obs. This and the following species 
often grow in company, — clamber- 
ing over other plants, and forming 
entangled bunches. Both are worth- 
less, unwelcome weeds, especially 
among the second crop of wet mead- 
ows. Ditching and draining are the 
remedies for the evil. 

7. P. sagitta'tnm, L. Leaves 
arrovv-shaped, acute, cn short pe- 
tioles ; clusters capitate ; peduncles 
smooth ; siameus 8 ; styles 3 ; fruit 
sharply 3-angl^d. 




Sagittate Polygonum. 
leaved Tear-thumb. 



Arrow- 



Eoct annual. Stem 2-4 feet long, slender, 
branching, acutely quadrangular. Leavesl-3 
inches long, and half an inch to an inch wide, 
sagittate at base, — the midrib and petiole re- 
trorsely aculeate. Sti2?ules smooth. Sejjals 
pale red, with the margins nearly white. 

Swampy meadows and thickets : Xew 
York to Florida. Fl. August. Fr. Septem- 
ber. 

Obs. Several other species of 
Polygonum are met with about our 
farms (descriptions of which may He 
found in the Floras), — but, as they 
are not particularly troublesome, 
they are omitted here. 



Fig. 182. The Arrow leaved Tear-thumb (rolygonum sagittatum). 



BL'CKWHEAT FAMILY. 



283 



2. IrAGOPY'KUM, Tourncf. Bltckwheat. 

[So named from its fruit resembling that of the Fagus, oi Beech.] 

Calyx nearly equally 5-parted ; lobes petal-like, withering and nearly 
unchanged in fruit. Stamens 8. Styles 3 ; stigmas capitate. Akene 3- 
sided, embraced at base by the persistent calyx ; embryo large, in the 
centre of the albumen, which it divides into 2 parts ; cotyledons broad, 
foliaceous, plicate and twisted. Annuals with stems finally purple, and 
white flowers fasciculate in paniculate racemes. 

1. F. esculen'tum, Moench. Stem erect, paniculately branched, sulcate- 
angled, smoothish ; leaves triangular-sagittate or subhastate, acute, pe- 
tioled ; racemes compound, terminal and axillary. 
Esculent Faggpyrum. Buckwheat. 

Fr. Ble Sarrasin. Germ. Der Buchweitzen. Span. Trigo Sarraceno. 

stem 2-4 feet high, much branchocl. Leaves2-Z or 4 inches long, and 1-2 inches wide, 
often a little hastate at base, on peiioles 1-2 or 3 inches long; stipules short, smooth. 
Flowers in somewhat paniculate racemes, — the fascicles rather crowded ; pedicels slender, 
longish, obscurely articulated above the middle. Sepals mostly white, with tinges of 
green and pale purple. Akena equally and acutely triquetrous, somewhat acuminate, 
much longer than the withered sepals, smooth, dark brown when mature, often striately 
clouded. 

Fields : cultivated. Native of Middle Asia. Fl. Aug. Fr. Sept. -Oct. 

Obs. This is extensively cultivated for its seeds, — the farinaceous 
albumen of which affords a delicious article of food, when properly 
managed,— and a very sorry one, if unskilfully treated. The glandular 
flowers are a favorite resort — and afford a rich reward to the labors — of 
the Honey-Bee. This is considered one of the most valuable plants for 
plowing in — it growing very rapidly, and succeeding on very poor soils. 
It readily escapes from culture, and has liecome naturalized. 

3. RU'MEX, L. Dock. 

[The ancient Latin name, of unknown derivation.] 

Flcivers sometim.es dioecious. Cal yx of 6 sepals ; the 3 outer sometimes 
united at base, spreading in fruit ; the 3 inner ones larger {valves) in- 
creasing after flowering, often bearinsf a grain-like t.iberde on the back. 
Stamens 6. Styles 3; stigmas pencil-tufted. Jkenc 3-angled, wingless. 
Embryo slightly curved, lying along one side of the albumen. Coarse 
perennials with petioles somewhat sheathing at base, and small, mostly 
green flowers, verticillate in paniculate racemes. 

^ 1. Flowers perfect : herbage bitter. 
^ Inner sepals entire, and all graniferous. 
1. R. oris' pus, L. Radical leaves oblong-lanceolate, mostly acute, 
curled or wavy on the margin ; inner sepals large, cordate ; verticils 
crowded. 

Curled Rumex Sour Dock. Curled Dock. Narrow .Dock. 



284 



WEEDS A2>D USEFUL TLANTS. 



Fr, Patience frisee. Germ. Krauser Ampfer. 

Boot ratlier large, fusiform, yellow. Stem 2 - 3 or 4 feet high, ang\ .lar-fculcate, smooth- 
ish, pauiculately branched ahove. Radical leaves 8-12 or 15 inches long, and 1 -2 or 3 
inches wide ; petioles 2-4 inches long ; the stem-lsaves smaller, linear-lanceolate. Floiven 
in crowded verticillate fascicles, with scarious involucres at base. Calyx green ; inner 
sepals much larger than the outer ones, entire or obsoietely denticulate near the base, — 
each with an ovoid acuminate excrescence, or grain, on the back. 

Moist grounds ; meadows, &:c.: introduced. Native of Europe. FZ. May -July. Fr 
July - September. 

Obs. The radical leaves of tliis are often used as a pot-herb, or early 
" greens ; " but the plant is au unsightly and troublesome weed, — and 
has become so extensively naturalized as to require a yigilaut attention 
to keep it in due subjection. 

Inner sepals dentate, — one principally graniferous. 

2. Pi. ohtusifo'lius, L. Radical leaves subcordate-oblong, obtuse, crenu- 
late ; verticils loose and rather distant. 

Obtuse-leaved Eumex. Bitter Dock. Broad-leaved Bock. 

Eoot thickish, branching, brown externally, yellow within. Stem 2-4 feet high, angu ■ 
lar-sulcate, roughish, paniculately branched. Radical haves 8-12 inches long, and 4-6 
inches wide : petioles 3-6 inches long. Floivers in interrupted verticillate fascicles. Cali/s 
green, — the inner sepals with long acute teeth near the base, and one of them bearing a 
large grain on the back. 

Grass lots; gardens, meadows, <fcc. : introduced. Native of Europe. J7. June - July. 
F>-. August- September. 

Obs. This species is even more worthless than the preceding ; but — 
although completely naturalized — it is not quite so prevalent. The 
presence of either imparts a very slovenly appearance to a meadow or 
pasture lot. 

^ 2 Flowers dicBcious : herbage acid. 

3. R. Acetose'lla, L. Leaves lanceolate-hastate, — the lobes acute, 
spreading ; inner sepals entire. 

Sheep Sorrel. Field Sorrel. 

Fr. Petite Oseille. Germ. Ber Sauer Ampfer, Span. Acederilla. 

.S';em6-12 or 15 inches high, slender, branching, somewhat angular and furrowed. 
Leaves 1-2 inches long, — the Tower ones mostly all hastate and on petioles as long or longer 
than the leaves — the upper ones on short petioles, and sometimes not hastate. Floivers in 
paniculate racemes, finally becoming purple,— the verticils 6-8-llowered. ristillaie 
pla.nts mostly taller than the staminate. 

Sandy flefds and pastures ; about old stumps, kc: introduced. Native of Em-ope. Fl. 
May. Fr. August. 

Obs. This little species (well known for its acidity.) is often so abun- 
dant as to be a nuisance on the farm. Improving the land — especially 
by adequate dressings of Lime — is believed to be the best mode of ex- 
pelling this, as well as many other obnoxious plants. 

4. EHE'mi, L. Reubarb. 

[ircm EJia, the ancient name of the river Volga, — its native region.] 

Calyx of G sepals, in a double series, persistent and shrivelling. Sta?nens 
9, arranged in pairs opposite the outer sepals, and singly opposite the 



LAUKEL FASriLY. 



285 



iuuer ones. Styles 3, short ; stigmas large, multifid. Alcene triquetrous, 
winged at the angles, surrounded at base by the T» itbered calyx. Her- 
baceous : leaves cbieiiY radical, large : flowers fasciculate, racemose-panic 
:iiate. 

1. E. EnAPO.x'Ticor, Ait. Leaves cordate-ovate, ratber obtuse, — the 
sinus at base dilated ; petioles "with a shallow channel above, rounded at 
the edges. 

Ehapoxtic Eheoi. Ehubarb. Pie Ehubarb. 

Root perennial, tuberous, large, reddist-'brown, yellow within. Stem 3-5 feet liigh, 
stout, striate-sulcate, smoottiish, fistular, panicuiately branched at summit. Radical 
leaver becoming very large (IS inches to 2 feet long), smoothish above, pubescent on the 
vein?, beneath; petiole? thick and succulent, 4-8 or 10 inches long, — the stem-leaves 
Braaller, and petioles shorter, as they ascend ; stipules large, membranaceous, sheathing. 
Flowers in large terminal racemose panicles, — Wic pedicels fasciculate, slender, one-third 
to half an inch long, articulated near the middle. Sepals greenish, with white margins, — 
the cuter ones rather narrow. Stigmas large, multifid, reflexed. 

Gardens : cultivated. Native of Scythia. J'Z. May. J^r. July -August. 

Chs. Frequently cultivated for the sake of its fleshy acid petioles — 
which are used by the pastry cook, in early spring, as a substitute for 
fruit, in making pies. The root of other species affords the medicinal 
Ehubarb, and this species is cultivated in England for its roots, which 
form an inferior kind of the drug. 



Order LXI. LAUEA'CE^. (Laurel Family.) 

Aroriatic trf'^ or sTinths with alternate simple leava, without stipules, and clustered often 
polyg?>.mo-:i-: - r' ■crs; caZ^j;of 4-6 colored sepals, imbricated in two rows in the 
bnd ; stain ~".al!y more numerous than the sepals ; anthers 2-4-ccllcd, open- 

ing by upl .t valves ; sti/le single ; fruit a 1-seeded berry or drupe. Seed sus- 

pended, with') It nV:i,i:im. 

The tropical plavits of this Order are highly interesting, — affording Cinnamon, Cassica 
and Camphor ; and also tliat species of Laurus (L. nobilis, L.) of which the ancients 
formed their Laurel wreaths or crowns. The species in the United States are of less im- 
portar.ce. 

1. SAS'SAFEAS, Nees. Sassafras. 

[Altered from Salsaf ras, the Spanish name.] 

Flcvirrs dioecious. Sepals 6, membranaceous, united at base, persistent. 
Sta:m. Fl. Stamens 9, in three series, all fertile, — the 3 innermost with 
a pair of stipitate glands at base ; anthers introrse, linear, 4-celled. 
Pistillate Fl. Stamens 6, all sterile. Berry on a thickened clavate 
fleshly pedicel. Trees with leaves often lobed but the margins entire, 
and greenish yellow flowers in corymbose racemes, appearing with the 
leaves. 

1. S. ofScina'le, Nees. Leaves ovate or some of them 3-lobed and 
ctLueate at base ; drupe dark blue ; peduncle purple. 

T/fFicix.^ Sassafras. Sassafras. 



2SQ 



WEEDS AXD USEFUL PLxiNTS. 



Stem 15-40 or 50 feet high, and 6-12 inches (in some rare instances, near 2 feet) in 
diameter, branching, — the young branches yellowish and pubescent. Leaves 3-5 inches 
long, and 2-4 inches wide, — silky-pubescent when young, finally smooth ; petioles half an 
inch to an inch long. Flowers from the same bads, and contemporaneous with the leaves. 
Sepals oblong, rather obtuse, pale, greenish-yellow. Berries ovoid-oblong. 

Woodlands ; fence-rows and old fields : Canada to Florida. Fl. April. Fr. September. 

Obs. The bark of this well-kuown small tree is a powerful, yet pleas- 
ant, aromatic stimulant, and possesses valuable medicinal properties ; 
which acquired for it, at an early day, in Europe, an exaggerated repu- 
tation. An infusion of the roots, or bark of the roots, makes an excel- 
lent diet drink. The pith of the young branches contains much mucilage, 
and is used to make a wash for inflamed eyes. We learn, also, from 
MiCHAUx's Sijlva, that bed steads made of the wood " are never infested 
with insects ; " which circumstance — to adopt the language of the 
Gazettes — is certainly " important, if true,"— and well worthy of notice. 

2. BENZOIN, Nees. Fever-bush. 

[A name said to be derived from the Arabic, — expressive of perfume.] 

F'oicers polygamo-dicecious. Sepals 6, connected at base. Staji. Fl, 
Stamens 9, in three series, — the innermost lobed at the summit, and 
gland-bearing at the base ; anthers 2-celIed. Pistillate Fl., w^ith 
15 - 18 alternating filiform and spatulate rudiments of stamens. Drupe 
oval ; peduncle not clavate. Shrubs with yQ\\o\Y flowers in small lateral 
fascicles (v/hich are surrounded by a deciduous involucre), appearing be- 
fore the leaves. 

1. B. odorif'emm, Nees. Loaves ob ovate-oblong, mostly acute, often 

cuneate at base ; drupe red, or finally dark purple. 

Odoriferous Benzoij^. Spice-wood. Wild Allspice. Fever-bush. 

(Jfem 6 - 8 or 10 feet high ; branches virgate, brittle. Leaves 2-4 inches long, mostly 
acute or with a short acumination (sometimes obtuse and rounded at apex) ; pdioUs 
about half an inch long. Flowers in involucrate clusters of 3-5 from a bud, on pedicels 
I - 2 lines long ; flower-buds distinct from the leaf-buds, — usuallj^ a fiower-bud on each 
side of the leaf-bud. Sepals greenish-yellow, obovate-oblong, obtuse. 

Moist rich low grounds ; borders of thickets, &c. Canada to Florida. Fl. April. Fr. 
September. 

Obs. This is a strongly aromatic shrub. In early times — before Phy 
eicians were so numerous— an infusion of the brittle spicy twigs was 
much used as a popular remedy, and even as a preventive, of the fevers 
which attacked the first settlers ; but it is now chiefly prescribed as a 
diet-drink for sickly cows, in the spring of the year. 

Order LXII. LORANTIIA'CE^E. (xMistletoe Family.) 

Shrubby plants parasitic on trees, having mostly opposite entire thick leaves without stipiiJes 
and monoecious or dioecious. /lowers in short catkin-like jointed spikes. Calyx-tube (of the 
fertile flowers) adherent to the ovary ; border obsolete or 3- 4-toothed. Stamens as many 
as the calyx-lobes. Fruit a 1-soedcd berry. Embn/o small in mucilaginous albumeii 
Chiefly tropical plants. T!i3 Mistletoe of Europe is Viscum album. 



SPUEGE FAMILY. 



287 



1. PHOEADEN'DRON, Nutt. Mistletoe. 

[Greek, p/wr, a thiei, and dendron, tree ; because tliey steal their food from the trees they 
grow upon.] 

Flowers didcious, usually several under each short and fleshy bract or 
scale, and sunk in the joint. Calyx globular, 3- (rarely 2 - 4-) lobed. 
Stamixate Fl. with a sessile anther at the base of each lobe, transversely 
2-celled. Stigma sessile. Berry globular, 1-seeded, with a gummy viscid 
pulp. S:em and branches jointed ; flowers greenish, in short axillary 
spikes. 

1. P, flaves'eens, ^^utt. Leaves elliptic-obovate, obtuse, somewhat 
longer than the spikes in their axils, somewhat petioled, yellowish-green ; 
berries pearly-white. 

Yellowish Phoradexdrox. Mistletoe. False Mistletoe. 

Sfem 9-18 inches high, terete, much branched; branches opposite. Leaver H-^-K 
inch long-, S-nerved beneath, smooth, fleshy or somewhat leathrey, narrowed at base to a 
thickish terete petiole 1-2 lines in length. Flowers small. 

Branches of trees ; Xew Jersey, South and West. April. 

Ohs. This well-known parasite, feeding as it does at the expense of 
the trees upon which it fastens itself, is in some places so abundant as to 
be injurious to valuable forest trees. In some parts of the West it proves 
very troublesome. Doct. Short writes that the severe winters of the few 
fears just past had killed it out in Kentucky ; but that now it is again 
.)verrunniug the Elms, Hickories, Wild Cherries, &c., of that region. * 

Order LXIII. EUPHORBIA' CE.^. (Spurge Family.) 

Plants usually with an acnd viilTcy juice, mostly simple leaves, with small and deciduous 
stipules or none, and various, usually monoecious or dioecious fiovxrs ; the fruit of 2-3 or 
several 1-2-seeded pods united around a central axis, separating when ripe. Seed sus- 
pended; evihryo hi fiQsliy albumen. Stigmas 2 -3 or more, often forked. Calyx usually 
valvate in the bud, sometimes vranting. Petals sometimes present 

This large and varied — yet essentially natural Family — comprises upwards of 100 
genera, — many of them possessing very active properties, or otherwise curious and inter- 
esting. Of these may be mentioned, tlae Croton Tiglium, L., which yields the powerful 
Croton Oil or Oil of Tiglium, — the .Jatropha Manihot, L., which alTords the Cassava 
and Tapioca, — the Crozophora tinctoria, .Juss., yielding Turnsol, — the Siphonia elastica, 
Per?., affording the true Caoutchouc or Gum elastic, — the Buxus seraporvirens, L., afford- 
ing the beautiful Box-wood, — the Hura crepitans, L., or curious Sand-box tree, &c., &;c. 

1. EUPHOR'BIA, L. Spurge. 

[Xamed after EupTiorlus, physician to King Juba of Mauritania.] 

Flowers monoecious, included in a cup-shaped 4 - 5-lobed involuc.s re- 
sembling a calyx or corolla, with glands at its sinuses. Stamixate Fl. 
numerous, lining the base of the involucre, each from the axil of a little 
brad, and consisting of a single stamen jointed on a pedicel ; anther cells 
globular, separate. Pistillate Fl. solitary, in the middle of the involu- 
cre, soon protruded on a long pedicel, consisting of a naked 3-lobed, 3- 
celled ovary; styles 3, bifid. Capsule separating into 3 carpe/s which 



288 AVEEDS A^-D USEPX'L TLAXTS. 

severally split elastically iuto 2 valves. Seeds 1 in eacli carpel. Poly- 
inorphous herbs, with an acrid milky juice ; peduncles lateral or terminal, 
often in umbellate clusters. 

^ 1. Leaves opposite, small, serrate, often hairy and falcate, furnished with 
awl-shaped or scaly stipules ; stems much branched; involucres in the forks 
or axils ; seeds transversely wrinkled-pitted ; annuals. 

1, E. macilla'ta, L. Prostrate ; peduncles equalling the petioles, 
crowded in lateral clusters ; pod acutely angled, puberulent ; seeds ash- 
colored, sharply 4:-angled. 

Spotted Euphorbia. Milk Purslane. Spotted Spurge. 

stem 6-12 inches long, mucli branched from the base and lying close to the ground. 
Leaves % an inch long, very oblique at the base and serrulate towards the apex, often 
with a dark purple spot above ; petioles scarcely a line in length. Involua-e small, its 
minute glands with a petal-like, white or purplish, somewhat crenate margin. 

Gravelly places and cultivated grounds. July - October. 

0^5. Very common everywhere, especially in Indian corn-fields, where 
it lies close to the ground, branching from the root in every direction, 
and forming a close mat. 

2. E. hypericifo'lia, L. Ascending or erect ; peduncles longer than 
the petioles, collected in loose, leafy cymes ; pod obtusely angled, smooth ; 
seeds blackish, obtusely angled. 

Hypekicum-leaved Euphorbia. Black Purslane. Large Spotted 
Spurge. Eye-bright. 

SteniQ-1% inches high, rather slender and leaning as if top-heavy, with somev/hat dichot- 
omous spreading branches above, smoothish, often purple. Leaves half an inch to near 
an inch and a half long, obliquely ovate-oblong or sub-falcate, rather obtuse, sharply 
serrate, nearly entire towards the base on the rounded or convex side, more or less 
pilose with longish flue hairs, often stained with purple blotches along the midrib ; petioles 
scarcely a line in length. Clusters of flmvers axillary and dichotomal, pedicellate, forming 
small corymbs at the ends of the branches ; appendages of the involucre minute, white, 
or purple edged with white, entire. 

Sandy fields; pastures, road-sides, kc: throughout the United States. Fl. July- 
September. Fr. September - October. 

Obs. This species is very common in dry pasture fields — especially in 
thinnish sandy soils, — and has been suspected of being the cause of saliva- 
tion, or slabbering, with which horses are often affected, in the latter 
part of summer. I cannot say hovf much foundation there may be for 
the suspicion ; but I have often observed that horses are not apt to eat 
much of any acrid or unpalatable plant, — and are, moreover, very expert 
in selecting esculent herbs from among those which are not so. This 
plant is a worthless, obnoxious little weed,— and I believe is best kept 
down by improving the soil, and choking it out by more valuable sub- 
stitutes. 

Besides the species above noticed there are several others, both native 
and naturalized, to be found in various parts of the country, but they do 
not come within the scope of this work, E. Ipecacuan'hSB, L., is a 
perennial species with a large root which possesses powerfully emetic 



SPUKGE FAMILY. 



260 



qualities, hence it is called AVild Ipecac. E . Lath' yrus, L., tlie Caper 
Spurge, a biennial species, is found in gardens, and is partially natural- 
ized ; it has a stout stem 2-3 feet high, -with thickish, mostly opposite 
leaves ; flowers in umbel-like clusters, the glands on the involucre with 2 
short horns ; this is sometimes called Mole Tree, from a popular notion 
that it kept moles out of gardens. An allied perennial species with run- 
ning root-stocks, E. Esula, L., is naturalized in some parts of Massachu- 
setts, where it is likely to become troublesome. 

2. CNIDOSCO'LUS, PoJiL Spuege-xettle. 

[Greek, Knile, a nettle, and SJcolos, a prickle.] 

Flowers monoecious, in a terminal open forking cyme ; the fertile ones 
usually in the lower forks. Stamixate Fl. Cahjx corolla-like (white), 
salver-shaped, 5-lobed. Stamens 10, monadelphous below, the inner ones 
longer. Pistillate Fl. Calyx as in staminate flowers, but 5-parted. 
Ovary 3-celled : styles 3, short, somewhat united, many-cleft. Pod 3- 
celled, bristly-hairy, 3-seeded, separating into three 2-valved carpels. 
Perennial herbs with stinging bristles. 

1. C. stimnlo'sa, Gray, Stem branching ; leaves roundish-heart- 

i?haped, 3 - 5-lobed, lobes sinuate toothed. 

Stinging Onidoscolus. Spurge-nettle. Tread-softly. 

Ror>t lonj witli long branches. Skm 6-18 inches high, and, as well as the leaves, 
cov:to i with stinging bristly hairs. Xearg? about 2 inches long and somewhat wider. 
ti'rrile liuw-r.s ab j'-it h:ilfan inch in length, hairj'. 

Virginia ani s^juthward. Throaghout the summer. 

Obs. A troublesome weed in light sandy soils, its long branching roots 
penetrating 3-5 feet. The prickles produce great irritation for a 
short time. 

3. RI'CTNUS, Tour lief. Castok-oil Plant. 

[Latin, Eicinus, a tick, or bug ; from the resemblance of iho seeds.] 

Flcvjcrs monoecious. Calyx 3 -5-parted, — the lobes valvate in ajstiva- 
tion. CoroUa none. Staminate Fl. Stamens numerous ; fi'aments 
variously united and much branched ; anthers with the cells distinct 
and pendulous from the apex of the filament. Ovary globose, 3-celled ; 
cells 1-ovuled ; style short ; stigmas 3, deeply 2-parted, oblong, colored, 
plumose. Capsule mostly echinate, 3-lobed ; cells or carpels l-c^eeded. 
1. Pi. commu'nis, L. Stem herbaceous, hoary ; leaves alternate, petio- 
lale, p?]tate, palmately 5-7-lobcd, — the lobes lanceolate, glandular-ser- 
rate ; capsule echinate. 

Common Ricinus. Castor-oil Bean. Palma Christi. 

Fr. Le Riciu ordinaire. Germ. Der Wunderbaum. Span, llicino. 

Boot annual. 4-6 feet high, stout, branched, terete, nodose, smooth, r\->stl7 

purplish and covered with a glaucous powder. Xeares 6-12 inches across, palmate-. " 'ed, 

13 



290 



WEEDS AXD USEFUL PLANTS, 




-—the undivided portion nearly orbicular , pdioles 3-6 inclies long, with a gland at apex, 
and sometime? 1, 2 or 3 near the base ; stipule opposite to each leaf, embracing the stem, 
caducous. Flowers terminal, paniculate — the staminate below, the pistillate above, all ou 
articulated pedicels. Calyx yellowish-green. PistiU purple and glaucous. Qijpsule cover- 
ed with subulate points. Seeds subovoid, smooth, mottled. 

Gardens and fields; cultivate-d. Native of India. I^. July -September. Fr. Sept. - 
October. 

Ohs. Extensively cultivated in the soutli and west, and even as far 
north as oSTew Jersey, for the valuable medicine, Castor-oil, which 'is 
afforded by its seeds. In our climate it is an annual, but in tropical 
countries it is perennial, and forms a small tree 30-40 feet in height. 
Often seen in gardens and door-yards as an ornamental plant. * 



Fig. 183. Summit of the Spurge-nettle (Cnidoscolus stimulosa), with the staminato" 
Bowers above and the fertile ones in the axils of the loaves below. 



■N"ETTLE FAMILY. 



291 



Oeder LXIY. URTICA'CEJE. (NEf le Famh^y,) 

ffei-bs, sTirubs or trees, with stipules and monoecious, dioecious or sometimes perfect flowers, 
having a regular calyx, free from the 1-celled frarely 2-celled) ovary, which forms a 1- 
seeded/rwii. Embryo in the albumen, when tliis is present ; ?-adick pointing upwards. 
Stamens as many as the lohes of the calyx and opposite to them, or sometimes fewer. 

A comprehensive and very important Order, — containing plants of various, and, in some 
instances, of remarkably dissimilar aspect and properties ; such as the Nettle and the 
Mulberry — the bitter Hop and the luscious Fig — the nutritious Bread-fruit (Artocarpus 
incisa, L. f.) and the deadly Upas (Antiaris toxicaria, Leschen). The celebrated Cow-tree 
or Palo de Vaca (Brosimum Galactodendron, Don.), of South America, " which yields a 
copious supply of rich and wholesome milk," belongs to this Order ; as also does the yel- 
low dye-wood, called Fustic (Madura tinctoria, Don) — and the wide-spreading Banyan- 
tree (Ficus rehgiosa, L.), of India. A species of Ficus (F. elastica, Roxb.) also yieida 
Caoutchouc, or Gum elastic. 

We follow Doctor Gray in the arrangement of this Order ; he places as sub-famihes of 
this, several which have been considered as families. 



1. Elm Sub-family. 

Tre&s with ioa/erj/Jwtce, alternate Zeeai-e? and perfect or monoeciously polygamous j/Zowe/s. 

Styles or stigmas 2. Fruit a samara or drvpe. Seed suspended. 

Flowers mostly perfect. Anthers extrorsc. Ovary 2-celled, 2-ovulcd. 

Fruit 1-celled, dry, winged. 1. Uljius. 

Flowers polygamous. Anthers introrso. Ovary 1-cellcd. 

Fruit a small drupe. 2. Celtis. 



2. Bread-fruit and Fig Sub-family. 



Trees or shrubs with milky, or colored jvice and alternate leaves ; monoe- 
cious or dioecious flowers, in catkin-liko heads or spikes, the parts of 
the fertile ones becoming fleshy in fruit, or both kinds in a fleshy 
receptacle. Styles 1-2. Oi'ary 1- (rarely 2-) celled, ripening as a dry 
akene. Inner bark often tough and fibrous. 

Flowers minute, enclosed in a pear-shaped receptacle which is pulpy 

when ripe. 3. Ficus. 

Flowers monoecious ; both kinds in separate catkin-like spikes, the calyx 

&c., becoming berry-like in fruit. Stamens 4, styles 2. 4. MORUS. 

Flowers dioecious ; the fertile ones collected in a close round head, 
which is fleshy in fruit. 
Sterile flowers in spikes. Unarmed. 5. Broussonbha. 

Sterile flowers in racemes. Branches spiny. 6. Maclura. 



3. i^ETTLE Sub-Family. 

Herbs with a watery juice, a tough fibrous bark, and opposite or alternate 
leaves. Floivers monoecious or dioecious \\\ $pilces, racemes, kc, not m 
catkins. Oiwr;/ 1-cclled, forming an akene in fruit. Stylel. Stamens 
as many as the sepals. 
Sepals 4, in both sterile and fertile flowers. 

Plant beset with stiugiug bristles. 7. Urtica. 



4. Hemp Sub-family. 



Herbs with a watery juice, a tough fibrous bark and mostly opposite 
lobed or divided leaves. Flowers dioecious ; the sterile in panicles or 
racemes, with 5 sepaU and 5 stamens ; the fertile crowded, with only 
one sepal which embraces the ovary. Stigmas 2, long. 
Erect, annual. Fertile flowers in spiked clusters. 

Leaves 5-7 divided. 8. Cannabis. 

Twining from a perennial root. Fertile flowers in short membranace- 
ous catkins. Leaves 3- 5-lobed. 9. Humxtlcs. 



292 



WEEDS A2sD USEFUL PLANIS. 



1. UL'MUS, L. Elm. 

[An ancient Latin name ; of obscure etymology.] 

Calyx memlDrauaceous, turbinate-campanulate, 4-9-cleft. Stamens as 
many as the lobes of the calyx. Ovary compressed, ovate, 2- celled, witli 
a single ovule suspended from the summit of each cell ; styles 2, diverg- 
ing, stigmatose on the inner side. Samara membranaceous, compressed, 
winged all round, by abortion 1-celled and 1-seeded. Alhumen none ; 
embryo straight; the cotyledons large, jp/czt'crs purplish-brown in lat- 
eral clusters preceding the leaves. 

1. U. America'na, L. Leaves ovate, oblong, smooth above, very un- 
equal at base, rather simply serrate, — the serratures uncinately acumi- 
nate ; flowers conspicuously pedicellate, in loose fascicles ; samara oval, 
densely villous-ciliate on the margin. 

American Ulmus. White Elm. Weeping Elm. 

stem 60-80 feet or more in height, and 2-3 or 4 feet in diameter ; branches long and 
spreading, or often rather drooping. Leaves 3-5 inches in length, acuminate ; petioles one 
fourth to half an inch long, smoothish. Stipules smooth. Styles pubescent, nearly white. 
Samara emarginate or bifid at apex between the 2 styles — the segments incurved so as 
to leave an apparent foramen through the wing ; margin densely fringed with soft white 
hairs. 

Banks of streams, borders of swamps, &c.: throughout the United States. Fl. April. 
Fr. June. 

Obs. This fine large tree is the species so much cultivated as a shade 
tree in New England. The noble avenues of Elms at New Haven, 
Conn., are the admiration of all visitors ; and nothing is required but a 
little attention at the proper season, to have every village in the land 
similarly adorned. Why will not the people of all our American towns 
and villages learn to do that much for the sake of taste and their own 
future comfort? 

2, U. ful'va, Mx. Leaves oval or obovate-oblong, conspicuously acu- 
minate, very scabrous above, rather unequal and somewhat cordate at 
base, doubly serrate ; buds clothed with a fulvous tomentum ; flowers 
in dense subsessile fascicles ; samara orbicular, naked on the margin. 
Tawny Ulmus. Slippery Elm. Red Elm. 

stem 30-50 feet high, and 12-18 inches in diameter ; branches virgate. Leaves 4-6 or 
8 inches long — the upper surface remarkably rough, the under surface tomentose-pubes- 
cent, especially along the midrib and nerves ; petioles about one third of an inch long, 
pubescent. Stipules 'pilose. Caij/^; about 7-cleft ; lobes obtuse, clothed and ciliate with a 
reddish-tawny pubescence. Stamens often 7, much exserted. ^i']/Zes glandular-pubescent, 
purple. Samara radiately veined, on a slender pedicel the length of the calyx, cleft at 
apex between the styles — the segments acuminate and so incurved and over-lapped as" to 
give the margin the appearance of being entire at apex. 

Eich low grounds, fence-rows, &c.: throughout the United States. F]. April. Fr. June. 

Obs. The inner bark of this species contains a large quantity of mu- 
cilage, — which has caused it to be added to the materia mcdica in our 
shops. The military on the Canada frontier, during the last war, fed 
their horses with it, when destitute of the usual forage, and found it a 



SETTLE FAMILY. 



293 



tolerable substitute for Iiay. The tree being smaller, and tlie branches 
straggling, it does not answer for a shade tree so well as the preceding. 
Besides these species, U. racemo'sa, T'nomas, the Corky White Elm, 
with racemed flowers and the bark often with corky ridges, is found in 
the iSTorth and AVest ; and U. ala'ta, i^-^^-- the Winged Elm, or ^Va- 
hoo, with small leaves and corky-winged branches, at the South and 
South-west. U. Campes'teis, L., the English Elm, is frequently culti- 
vated. It is a less graceful tree than our American Elm, having more 
the sturdy habit of an oak. Its wood is very valuable, as it is not 
liable to split or warp. 

2. CEL'TIS, Tournef. Nettle-tree. 

[An ancient name of the Lotus ; applied to this genus.] 

Flowers monoeciously polygamous. Cahjx 5 - 6-parted, persistent. Sta- 
mens as many as ths sepals. Ovary ovoid, 1-celIed, with a sin<jle sus- 
pended ovule ; stigmas 2, elongated, recurved. Drupe globose,^fleshy, 
smooth, 1-seeded. Cotyledons conduplicate, enclosing a scanty gelati- 
nous central albumen. Flowers axillary, solitary or in pairs, dull, green 
ish-yellovr. 




1. C. occidenta'lis, Leaves obliquely ovate, acuminate, serrate; 
fruit on a peduncle once or twice the length of the petiole, reddish or 
yellow, turning dark purple at maturity. 



Fig. 184. Flowers of the Xettle-tree (Celtis occidentalis). 185. Fruit and developed 
leave.?, a. An enlarged flo'.ver opened to shov<" the embryo. 



294 



WEEDS AND USEFUL PLA]STS. 



Westeen Celtis. Ncttle-tree. Sugar-berry. Hack-berry. MaDj* 
berry. 

stem 20-60 or 80 feet high. Leaves 2-4 or 5 inches long, more or less scabrous on the 
upper surface, and somewhat hairy beneath, finally coriaceous ; petioles one third or half 
au inch in len^/ h. Sepals dull greenish-yellow, oblong-lanceolate. SiigTiias densely pubes- 
cent, long, divaricate, with the points often incurved. Dinipe edible, the pulpy coat thin, 
sweetish. 

P.ich ligM coils : throughout the United States. H. May. Fr. September. 

Obs. A widely distributed but not very abundant tree, at least in the 
northern States, which seems to vary considerably ; a low form found 
at the Q(mth is the 0. pumila, Pursh ; a variety with thick leaves is C. 
crassifolia, Lam. According to Michaux, the wood is but little es- 
teemed, as it is not durable when exposed to the weather. It is said 
however to afford a fine charcoal. 

3. FI'CUS, Tourncf. Fig. 

[An ancient name ; of obscure derivation.] 

Receptacle pyriform or snbglobose, fleshy, concealing the florets in a 
central cavity, — the orifice at apex, close by small scales. Florets 
numerous, very minute, pedicellate, crowded on the internal surface of 
the receptacle, dioecious, or the upper ones staminate and the other? 
pistillate. Staminate Fl. Calyx 3-parted. Stamens 3, opposite the 
calyx-segments ; anthers incumbent, 2-ce]led. Pistillate Fl. CaJyi 

5- cleft, — the tube decurrent on the pedicel. Ovary seated somewhal 
laterally on a short stipe, 1-celled; style lateral, filiform ; stigma bifid. 
1. F. Cari'ca, L. Leaves cordate at base, 3-5-lobed, repand-dentato, 
lobes obtuse, scabrous above, pubescent beneath ; receptacles pyriform, 
glabrous. 

Carian Ficus. Fig-tree. 

Fr. Le Figuier. Germ. Der Feigenbaum. Span. Higuera. 

stem 6-10 or 12 feet high — a stout branching shrub, with an acrid milky juice. Leaves 

6- 9 inches long, deeply 3-lobed with 2 shorter side-lobes ; petioles 3-5 or 6 inches long, 
with large convolute stipules at base. Receptacles axillary, turbinate or pear-shaped, about 
an inch in diameter. 

Cultivated. Native of Caria, in Asia. J^L July. Fr. 

Obs. This shrub requires the shelter of a green-house, in the middle 
and northern States, — where is produces freely. In the southern States 
it succeeds in the open air. The inflorescence, or position of the flow- 
ers, of the Fig — (concealed within the body of what is commonly re- 
garded as the fruit.) is very remarkable ; — being just the reverse of 
that of the Strawberry, — in which the minute pistils are scattered over 
the exterior of the enlarging succulent receptacle. In all the spcimens 
I have examined the florets appear to be pistillate. 

4. MO'RUS, Tournef. Mulberry. 

[Greek, Morea, the Mulberry.] 
Flowers monoecious or dioecious in separate axillary catkin-like spikes. 
Calyx 4-parted, — the segments ovate. Stamens 4. Ovary sessile, o ;oid, 



NETTI.E FAMILY. 295 

2-celled ; one of the cells smaller and disappearing ; stigmas 2, terminal, 
filiform, villous on the inner side. Akene compressed, ovate, covered by 
the persistent succulent calvx, — the ivhole spike thus becoming a com 
pound terete oblong herrij. 

1. M. ru'bra, L Leaves cordate-cvate and acuminate, or some- 
times 2 - 3-lobed, serrate, scabrous above, pubescent beneath; fruit 
dark purple. 

Red iloRUS. Red Mulberry. 

Skm usually 15-25 feet liigh, and 9-18 inches in diameter (in some instances consider- 
ably taller and larger), with numerous spreading branches at summit. Leaves 4-6 or 8 
inches long, more or less cordate (on young plants often 2-3 lobed, and very scabrous 
above), dentate-serrate, with an entire acumination, deep green and roughish on the 
upper surface, softly, and, while young, somewhat hoary-pubescent beneath, especially 
along the nerves ; _pe<ioZes 1-2 or 3 inches long, with linear membranaceous caducous 
siipiiZes at base. Flowerrs greenish, small, numerous, in axillary pedunculate ament-liice 
spikes — sometimes dioecious, and not unfrequently the spikes are androgynous. Staminate 
sjrilces 1-ncar 2 inches long. Pistillate spikes more densely flowered, cylindric, about an 
iuch long, becoming juicy, dark purple and pleasantly esculent when mature. Peduncle 
of the berry about an inch long. 

Rich woodlands, fence-rows, &c.: throughout the United States. Fl. May. Fr. June- 
July. 

Obs. The wood of this small tree is exceedingly durable, and highly 
valued for making posts, &c. The leaves have been successfully used 
for feeding silk-worms ; but the product is said to be not so fine, as that 
afforded by the White Mulberry. The fruit is more admired than that 
of any other species. 

2. M. aVba, L. Leaves obliquely cordate-ovate, and somewhat lobed, 
acute or sub-acuniiuate, serrate, smoothish and shining ; fruit mostly 
yellowish-white. 

White Morus. — White Mulberry. 

Fr. Murier-blanc. Ger. AYeisse Hvlaulbeere. Span. Morera. 

Stem 10-20 or 25 feet high, and 8-12 or 15 inches in diameter, much branched at sum- 
mit. Leaves 2-4 inches long (sometimes, especially in young plants, 2-3 times that size), 
unequally crenate-serrato, often partially lubud, smoothish, shining and yellowish-green ; 
pelioles half an inch to an inch long, with kuice-lincar stipules at base. Pistillate spikes 
ehorter and smaller than in the preceding. Fndi pale yellow or straw color when mature 
— rarely dark purple or nearly black. 

About houses, fence-rows, &c.: introduced. Native of China, Persia, &c. JPZ. May. Fr 
Jane - July. 

Obs. This species was introduced nearly a century since, with a 
view to the feeding of Silk-worms, and the production of silk. The 
silk-culture, however, was soon abandoned, — for, in that early stage of 
the colonies, the sparsely settled Agriculturists found it more important 
to nmltiply mammiferous animals, rather than Insects : but the tree be- 
came partially naturalized, — and is still frequently to be met with. 
A-bout twenty years ago, a variety of the White Mulberry — of smaller 
stature, and much larger leaves, (well known by the name of Mwils 
7nw/f2ca !///.$), was introduced, as being still better adapted to the feed- 
ing of Silk-worms; and soon afterwards, a scene of ?peculation and m 



296 WEEDS AND USEFUL TLANTS. 

fatuation was exliibited, throughout the United States, which bade 
defiance to all the suggestions of reason and common sense. There was 
a sort of Multicaiitis monomania (or Moro-mania !) — so universal, and 
engrossing, that it became absolutely ludicrous ; and w^as scarcely ex- 
ceeded in absurdity, by the nearly contemporaneous epidemic, which 
afflicted the nation in reference to its financial concerns. Almost every 
body was eagerly engaged in cultivating myriads of trees, to sell, — ■ 
without stopping to enqirire where they could be sold, or who would 
be likely to buy ! At some future day — and under different circum- 
stances, — it is quite probable that a portion of our population will find 
the Silk-culture an eligible business, and the Morus multicaulis a valua- 
ble little tree. The European Black Mulberry, M. ni'gea, L., is some- 
times cultivated. 

15. BROUSSONET'IA, VenL Paper Mulberry. 

[Dedicated to P. iV. V. Broussond, a Froncli Naturalist.] 

Flcwcrs dioecious. Staminate Fl. in an ament-like spike, bracteate. 
Calyx 4-parted. Pistillate Fl., capitate, densely crowded on a glo- 
bose receptacle, and mixed with hairy scales. CW//:c urceolate, 3- 4- 
toothed. Ovary 1-celled, pedicellate ; style filiform, excentric, stigma- 
tose on one side. Akene softly fleshy, elevated on the baccate pedicel, 
which is surrounded at base by the calyx. 

1. B. papyrif'era. Vent. Leaves 
scabrous above, pubescent beneath, 
— those on the young branches lob- 
ed, on the older ones mostly undivi- 
ded, roundish-ovate or sub-cordate, 
acuminate, serrate. 
Paper-producing Broussoxetia. — 
Paper Mulberry. 

Stef}yi 15-20 or 25 feet high, and 8-12 or 
15 iuclics in diameter, with spreading bran- 
ches, — the branches coated with a remark- 
ably tough bark. Leaves 3-6 or 8 inches 
long ; petioles 1-3 inches long. Staminate 
spikes about 2 inches long, resembling loose 
aments. Fistillatejlowers in a dense capitate 
cluster. 

About houses : introduced. Native of 
Japan and the South Sea Islands. Fl. May. 
Fr. Sept. 

Ohs. This tree was introduced 
some years since, as a shade-tree ; but is inferior to many others in beauty, 
— and is now rarely planted for that purpose. The roots are so prolific 
in suckers, as to be quite a nuisance, about yards and gardens. The 




Fig. 186. A branch of the Paper Mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera), reduced, witb 
fertile aments and variously lobed loaves 



NETTLE EAMILY. 



29T 



leaves upon the young- shoots and suckers present a remarkable diversity 
of shape. The pistillate tree is much less common than the staminate ; 
and is even more objectionable than that, in streets, on account of the 
dirty appearance produced by the fallen fruit. The inner bark of this 
tree affords the South Sea Islanders a kind of tough paper, v/hich they 
use as substitute for cloth. 

6. MACLU'EA, Nutt. Osage-oeange. 

[Named iu honor of WilUam 3Iaclure, — a munificent patron of Natural Science] 

Flowers dioecious, Staminate Fl. racemose. Cfi/i/j; 4-parted. Pistil- 
late Fl., capitate, densely crowded, and coalesced, on a globose fleshy 
receptacle. Sepals 4, iu opposite pairs, oblong, cucullate-concave, fleshy. 
Ovary sessile, 1-celled ; style terminal, bifid, — one branch elongated and 
much exserted, stigmatose on the inner side — the other branch small or 
abortive. Akenes severally embraced by the fleshy sepals, which are all co- 
alesced into a large compound globose lactescent berry, with a glabrous, 
but uneven, verrucose or irregularly tessellated surface. Small trees, with 
branches armed with very sharp slender spines. 

1. M. auranti'aca, t. Loaves lance-ovate, acuminate, entire, gla- 
brous and shining above, roughish-puberulent beneath ; berry subscssile, 
axillary, solitary. 

Orange-like Maclura. Osage-orange. Bow-v/ood. Bodock. 

stem 15-25 or 30 feet high, witli a much-branched bushy top, — the branches virgate, 
but often inchned to droop or curve downwards, armed with small and very sharp spines. 
Leaves 4-6 inchos long, subcoriaceous, mucronate by the extended midrib ; petioles 1-2 
inches long ; stipules oblong, somewhat cucullato, caducous, distillate flowers co&lesced 
in a sohd globose head, which is 2 to near 3 inches in diameter, when fully grown ; style? 
near an inch long, villous and finally purplish. 

South Western titates. Fl. May - June. Fr. Sept. - Oct. 

Obs. The roots of this tree are of a bright orange color, and so abun- 
dant and extensive as to be troublesome in gardens. The wood is very 
hard and durable. It was highly valued by the aborigines as a mate- 
rial for making bows, from which fact it was called by the early French 
settlers Bois d'arc, v»'hich has degenerated into Bodock hi some parts of 
the country. Silk-worms feed greedily upon its leaves ; and the plant, 
properly managed, makes a very neat and effective hedge. 

7. URTI'CA, L. Nettle. 

[Latin, uro, to burn, tadus, touch ; from the sensation produced by touching it.] 

Flowers monoecious or dicBcious, in panicled racemes or spikes, or close 
clusters. Stam. Fl. Sepals 4. Stamens 4, inserted around the cup- 
shaped rudiments of a pistil. Pistillate Fl. Sepals 4, in opposite 
pairs ; the outer pair much smaller, somewhat keeled, spreading ; the 
two inner flat or concave, in fruit membranaceous and enclosing the 
straight and erect ovate flattened alcene. Stigma pencil-tufted. Plant^i 
with opposite leaves, gveerAshfoivers, and armed with stinging hairs. 
13- 



298 



WEEDS AND USEFUL PLANTS. 



1. U. dioi'ca, X, Leaves ovate-lanceolate, conspicuously acuminate, cor^ 

date at base, coarsely and acutely serrate ; flowers often dioecious, in 

clustered paniculate spikes longer than the petioles. 

Dioicous Urtica. Nettle. Stinging-nettle. 

Fr. Grande Ortie. Germ. Die Brennessel. Span. Ortiga. 

Root perennial. Stem 2-3 feet high, obtusely 4-angled, brcanching, very hispid. Leaves 
2 or 3-5 inches in length ; petioles half an inch to 2 inches long, hirsute ; stipules linear- 
lanceolate. Flowers small, in interrupted clusters, on slender axillary branching hispid 
spikes. 

About houses, waste places, &c. : introduced. Native of Europe and Asia. Fl. June- 
Aug. Fr. Aug. -Sept. 




ISO 188 



2. JJ. u'rens, L. Leaves elliptical or ovate, coarsely and deeply serrate 
with spreading teeth ; flowers in simple capitate clusters, on peduncles, 
shorter than the slender petioles. 



Fig. 187. The small Stinging-nettle (Urtica urens). 188. A staminate floAver. 189. A 
pietillato one, both enlarged. 



XETTLE FAMILY. 



299 



- SiixGixG Urtica. Small Stinging-nettle. 

Annual. 5''eni 8 -12 inches iiigh, erect. Xsam 1 - 2 inches long <bUp* cr som-owhat 
cordate at the base. 
Waste places. New York State and Eastward. 

Obs. These naturalized weeds, so well known for their stingins^ quali- 
ties, are apt, especially the first mentioned, to become troublesome where 
they are allowed to flourish. The quaint old herbalist, Culpepper, 
remarks " that they may be found by feeling on the darkest night." In 
some parts of England nettles are used as a pot-herb, and the tough 
bark is said to afford a thread superior in durability to that from flax. 
There is a large-leaved native nettle which is now placed in another ge- 
nus (Lapor'tea canaden'sis, Gaudich), the Wood-nettle, which is not 
inclined to intrude on cultivated lands. * 



8. CAX'In'ABIS, Tournef. Hemp. 

[An ancient Greek name, — of obscure etymology.] 

SxAiJixATE Fl., in axillary compound racemes, or panicles with 5 sepals 
and 5 drooping stamens. Pistillate Fl., spicate-glomerate, with single 
bracts. Calyx of a single membranaceous sepal, folded around the sub- 
globose ovary. Nut 1-celled, 2-valved, indehiscent. 

1. C. SATi'vA, L. Leaves digitate, petiolate ; leaflets 5-7, lanceolate, 
serrate. 

Cultivated Caxxabis. Hemp. 

Fr. Le Chanvre. Germ. Bev Hanf. Span. Caiiamo. 

Root annual. Stem 5-8 or 10 feet high, obtusely angular and sulcate, scabrous-puoes- 
cent, often branched. Leaves mostly opposite (the upper ones often alternate) ; leaflets 
3-5 inches long (the outside or lateral ones much smaller than the others, and often en- 
lire — especially on the slaminaie plant) ■ common petioles 1-2 or 3 inches long; stipules 
lanceolate, siaminate flowers greenish, in loose pedunculate axillary clusters, rather 
crowded in a kind of dense panicle at summit. Pistillate flowers axillary, sessile, mostly 
in pairs. Calyx subglobose, acuminate, pubescent, green, slit on one side. Stignvis long, 
slender, densely pubescent, somewhat tawny. Nut ovoid, slightly compressed, smooth, 
greenish, reticulated with whitish veins, enclosed in the persistent calyx. ' 

Cultivated. Native ol Persia. Fl. June. Fr. Aug. 

Obs. This plant — so important in Commerce and the Arts — is culti- 
vated on a large scale in Kentucky and some others of the fertile west- 
ern States-; but only to a limited extent in the middle and northern 
States. 

9. HU'MULUS, L. Hop. 

[Latin, Humus, moist earth, or mould ; in allusion to its place of growth.] 

Stamixate Fl. in loose oblong axillary-j^an/c/es with 5 sepals, and 5 
erect stamens. Pistillate Fl. in short axillary and solitary strobile- 
like aments ; bracts foliaceous, imbricated in several rows, 2-flowered. 
Calyx a single membranaceous scale-like enlarging sepal, its folded mar- 



300 



WEEDS AND USEFUL PLANTS. 



gin embracing the ovary. Nuts roundisb-ovoid, inclosed in the persis- 
tent truncate calyx. Cotyledons linear, spirally involute. 




1. H. Ln'pulus, L. Leaves mostly S-Iobed, cordate at base, petiolate, 
scabrous. 

Hop. Hop-vine. 

Fr. Houblon. Germ. Der Hopfen. Sj)an. Hoblon. 

Root perennial, branching;. Stem 10-15 or 20 feet long, several from the same root (or 
rfeizoma), slender, volubile, somewhat angular and mostly twisted, retrorsely aculeate, 
with slender branches above. Leaves 3-5 inches long, generally opposite — the upper 
ones often alternate and not lobed, — all very scabrous on the upper surface ; petioles 1-2 
or 3 inches long ; stipules ovate-lanceolate, connate below, free at summit. Staminate 
fioivers in oblong panicles. Pistillate flowers in pendulous ovoid-oblong bracteate strobiles, 
or aments, which are proverbially numerous and crowded (" as thick as hops "), 1-2 in- 
ches long at maturity ; bracts orbicular or broadly-ovate, with a short abrupt acumina- 
tion. 

Cultivated, but indigenous in most parts of the United States. Fl. July. Fr. Septem- 
ber. 

Obs. The value of the Cones, or Aments, of the pistillate plant, is 
well known to every house-keeper ; and it is cultivated for culinary 



Fig. 190. Tlie Hop (Hamulus Lupulus), a branch of a ftaminate plant, reduced. 191. A 
separate staminate flower. 192. A young pistillate ament. 193. A ripe ament or strobile 
194. A much magnified grain of Lupulin. 



PLAXE-TEEE FAMILY. 



801 



pmposes, in almost every garden. The medicinal virtues of the cones 
are also very considerable ; they reside in the little resinous atoms (lupu- 
lin), which abound near the base of the scales. The hops for the brew- 
eries are cultivated on a large scale, in some districts of the middle and 
northern States — particularly in Western New York, — where, it is said, 
thsy are a profitable crop. The staminate plant is of so little account, 
that it is scarcely known except to the botanists. 



Order LXY. PLATANA'CEiE. (Plane-tree Family.) 

Tree?, with a watery juice, and alternate, pctiolate, palmately -nerved and lobed leaves with 
sheathing, deciduous stipules and petioles which are tumid and hollow at base, concealing 
the young buds. Flowers moncecious, minute and inconspicuous, densely crowded on 
globose receptacles, — both kinds destitute of floral envelopes; heads pendulous on long 
slender peduncles. Stamtxate Fl. Stamens numerous, irregularly mixed with subcla- 
vate scales, densely crowded. Pisttllate Fl. Ovaries numerous, obconic or filiform-cla- 
vate, densely crowded, mixed with spatulate scales {abortive ovaries) ; style elongated, 
subulate, stigmatose on one side, near the apex. Fruit a 1-cellcd 1-seeded clavate coria- 
ceous little nut, — the base surrounded with pappus-like hairs. Seed cylindric-oblong, 
pendulous ; embryo in the axis of fleshy albumen. 

An Order consisting of the single genus here given, — and the fjeneric character ,oi com&Q 
the same as that of the Order. 



1. PLAT'ANUS, L. Plaxe-tkee. 

l_Grcck, Platys, broad ; in allusion to its vvidc-sprcadiug branches and foliage.] 

1. P. occidexta'lis, L. Leaves roundish-pentagonal, acuminate, 
obscurely palmate-lobed, sinuate-dentate, pubescent beneath. 

Western Platanus. Button-wood. Sycamore. Plane-tree. 

stem 60-100 feet high, and 2-4 or 5 feet or more, in diameter, with large spreading 
branches, and a smoothish cinereous bark, which exfoliates in broad thinnish plates. 
Leaves 3 - 6 or 8 inches long, and wider than long, — the base at first truncate, finally sub- 
cordate, obscurely palmate or angulate-lobed, unequally sinuate-dentate with the teeth 
acuminate, loosely clothed with a hoary branching deciduous pubescence ; peiioZes 1-3 
inches in length, tumid and hollow at base, covering the young bxid which is formed 
within and occupies the cavity ; stipules somewhat salver-form, sheathing the young bran- 
ches immediately above the petioles, — the liirib spreading, foliaceous, coarsely and un- 
equally toothed. Siaminate heads or globes small, on peduncles 1-2 inches long, deciduous. 
Pistillate heads about an inch in diameter, pendulous on slender terete peduncles 3-5 in- 
ches long, persistent. Nuts about one-third of an inch long, slender, subterete, clavate. 
mucronate, — the base acute and invested with tawny pappus-like hairs. 

Banks of streams, road-sides, &c. : throughout the United States. Fl. April -Jlay. Fr. 
Oct. 

Obs. This stately tree — originating from a very small seed — often 
attains to a larger size than any other, east of the Eocky Mountains. 
It is sometimes planted for shade, — but becomes rather large for streets^ 
or to stand near houses. The timber is not much esteemed,— though 
occasionally sawed into joists, and other lumber. For several years 



803 



Tr£i.T),S ^KD USEFUL PLANTS. 



past, tlie trees (or, at least, the branciies^^ . in the spring, appeared every- 
where to be disease-J and dying ; but they have still recovered again, more 
or less completely, ih. the eoui-se of the summer. The cause of this phe- 
nomenon, — (whether inbocts, as some suppose — or late unseasonable 
frosts, as I incline to think.) has not been satisfactorily determined. 



Order LXYI. JUGLAXDA'CE^. (TValxut Fa^.iilt.) 

Jj-ges with a resinoxis sweet or vrateryjyics, alternate and odd-pinnate Zeare?, without sti- 
pules, and monoecious floivers. — the staminate ones with an irregular calyx in amenis. — the 
pisiitiate ones with a regular o-5-lohed caZyx, adherent to the ovary, solitary or in small 
clusters. Ovary incompletely 2 -4-celled, with but one oiitZ^, becoming in/ruif a kind of dry 
dmtpe, with a bony endocarp (nut-shell) , containing a large 4-lobed seed, without albumen. 
Cotyledons fleshy and oily, sinuate-lobed. 

An Order consisting chiefly of WalndLs and IIid:ories, — valuable for their wood and 
some of them for their fruit. 

1. JU'GLA^;."^, X. TTalxut. 

[Latin, Jovis GlaitSy the nut of Jupiter ; by way of eminence.] 

Amcnts of staminate fi. simple, cylindric, proceeding from buds without 
leaves. Co.hjx adnate to an entire 1-flowered bract, 5 or 6-parted, — the 
segments membranaceous, unequal Stamens numerous, sub-sessile. 
Pistillate ji. terminal, solitary, or few and clustered. Calyx-tube ovoid 
adherent to the ovary, — the limb 4-toothed, with 4 small petals alternat- 
ing with the calyx teeth. Styles 2, very short. Stigi/ias 2, elongated, 
recurved, papillose-fimbriate. Fruit drupaceous, containing a single 
nut, — the epicarp (or hull) somewhat fleshy, fibrous within, iudehisceat, 
— the 7iut woody, rugose and irregularly sulcate. Juice resinous-arom- 
atic •, pith separated into transverse lamingg or plates ; young branches 
brittle. Trees with nearly naked buds and odd-pinnate leaves of 
numerous serrate leaflets. 

1. J. ee'gl^, L. Leaflets oval, rather acute, smootli, nearly entire ; fruit 
roundish-oval ; nut sub-compressed, smoothish. 

Royal Juglaxs. English "^Yalnut. Madeira Nut. 

Fr. Noyer commuu. G:rm. Die Wallnuss. Span. Noguera. 

stem 20-30 or 40 feet high, branched. Leaflets 2-5 inches long, acute, or sometimes 
rounded and emargiaato at apex, subserrate or entire, villous in the angles of the nerves 
beneath, in 3 - 5 pairs with a terminal odd one, — the lower pairs smaller. Aments ovoid- 
oblong, 2-3 inc hes in length. PislUlaie flovaers in small terminal clusters of 2-3, on a, 
rather short common peduncle. 1/rupe ovai or subglobose, mucronate, about 2 inches long 
and 1-2 inchea ji diameter, with a smoothish subcoriaceous epicarp; nut smoothish or 
EomewliaS corni^ated. 

About houxes : cultU-ated. Native of Persia. Fl. ilay. F}\ Oct. 

Obs. Thi3 oriental -species is callcvi English TTalnut, in consequence, 
as I suppose, of its having come to us by way of the mother country. 
Such misnomers are not unfrequent. among cultivated plants. This one 



VTALXUT FAMILY. 



803 



IS occasionally cultiyated for the young fruit, — -s.hich makes a favorite 
pickle. The tree is rather impatient of the climate, in the rural dis- 
tricts of Pennsylvania ; but does very well in the shelter afforded by our 
cities and large towns. The nuts are rarely perfected, here ; but those 
imported, are highly esteemed. 

2. J. cine'rea; T^- Leaflets oblong-lanceolate, rounded at base, softly 
pubescent beneath, with the petioles and branchlets downy with clammy 
hairs ; drupe ovoid-oblong, coriaceous, viscid-pubescent ; nut elliptic- 
oblong, acuminate, conspicuously sculptured. 

CixEKEOus JcGLAxs. White Walnut. Butter-nut. 

stem 20 - 50 feet high, with numerous branches and a smoothish cinereous bark. Leafiets 
2-4, or 5 inches long, serrate, sessile, softly pubescent and paler beneath, in 7 - 8 pairs 
with a terminal odd one. Aments 3-5 inches long. Pistillate Jlowers 3-5 or 7, in a ter- 
minal spike, rather distant, sessile on a long common peduncle. Drupe 2-3 inches long, 
and 1 to near 2 inches in diameter, elliptic-ovoid with a short tapering protuberance at 
apex, often slightly compressed and obscurely angular, softly hairy and clammy,— tha 
epicarp somewhat coriaceous. 

Kich bottom lands, along streams, &c. ; throughout the United States. Fl. May. Ft: 
Sept. -Oct. 

Ols. The bark of this tree affords an extract (Butter-nut Physic) , 
which is a convenient and popular cathartic. The young drupes, col- 
lected about the last of June, make excellent pickles. The kernel ol 
the mature fruit is oily, and soon becomes rancid. The bark as well as 
the husks of the fruit are sometimes used as a dye, and the wood, though 
lighter colored and less valuable than that of the following species, is 
durable when exposed to heat and moisture, and is used for panels of 
coaches and similar purposes. 

3. J. ni'gra, L. Leaflets ovate-lanceolate, subccrdate at base, the 
under surface and petioles slightly pubescent ; drupe globose, roughish- 
dotted, spongy ; nut subglobose, rugcse-su!cate. 

Black Juglaxs. Black Walnut. 

stem 40 - 60 or 80 feet high, with spreading crooked branches, — often forming a broad 
roundish and rather open fop. Leaflets 2-4 inches long, serrate, subsessile, in 7 -10 pairs, 
with a terminal odd one which is often starved, or abortive. Aments about 2 inches long. 
Fidillate flrju:ers in small terminal clusters of 2-4, on a short common peduncle. T>rupie 
an inch and a half to 2>^ inches in diameter, mostly globose, sometimes oval or oblong- 
ovoid, greenish-yellow when mature. — the epimj-p (or "hull") more or less succulent 
and sponcrv. 

Rich woodlands, fence-rows, £:c. : throughout the United States. Fl. May. Fr. Octo- 
ber. 

Obs. The dense dark-brown wood of this species is valuable, — and is 
much used by Cabinet-makers, as a substitute for Mahogany. The 
s])ongy epicarp is often employed as a domestic dye-stuff, — and the nu- 
cleus, or kernel, although somewhat oily, is generally esteemed. The 
young fruit and leaves, when rubbed or bruised, emit a strong and not 
unpleasant resinous odor. This tree, when prevalent, is a pretty sure 
iodioatiou of a fertile soil. 



SOi 



WEEDS AXD USEFUL TLAXl'S. 



2. CAH'TA, Nutt. Hickoey. 

[Greek, Karya^ — the ancient name of the "Walnut. J 

Stamixate Fl. in slender lateral aments, ^vliicu are mostly in threes, 
from the same buds with the leaves. Calyx scale-like, unequally 3- 
parted. Stamens 3 - 8 ; anthers sub-sessile. Pistillate Fl. in terminal 
clusters of 2-3. Calyx 4-cleft ; petals none ; stig?nas large, 4-lobed. 
Fruit with a thick leathery husJc, opening more or less completely by 4 
valves; ?7ii? loDg, smooth, usually somewhat 4-angled. /u/ce watery or 
often sweetish ; pith continuous; young branches tough and pliable; 
leaflets acuminate ; pubescence stellate. All flowering in May and drop- 
ping their nuts in October. 

* Seed edible ; valves of the hull completely separating. 
f Fruit oblong ; the husk thin : bark of the trunk not shaggy. 

1. C. olivsefor'mis, Nutt. Leaflets 11-15, lanceolate and somewhat 
falcate, serrate, subsessile, — the terminal one petiolulate ; fruit obovoid- 
oblong ; epicarp rather thin ; nut olive-shaped, obscurely 4-angled, with 
an even surface. 

Olive-shaped Caeya. Pecan Hickory. Pecan nut. 

stem 40-50 feet high. Leaflels in 5 - 7 or 8 pairs, with a terminal odd one, 3-6 inches 
in length, smooth, with a short roughish puhescence on the midrih and nerves beneath. 
Fruit 1 to near 2 inches long ; nut \vith a thin frangible sMZ, — the kernel large. 

Wet low grounds : Western and South-western States. 

Obs. This tree is little known, in the North, except by its very fine 
nuts, — which are even superior to those of the admired Shell-bark, 
ff Fruit globular, with a very thick: husk : hark of the trunk shaggy, fall- 
ing off in strips. 

2. C. al'ba, Nutl. Leaflets 5, obovate-lanceolate, acuminate, sharply 
serrate ; aments smoothish ; fruit depressed-globose ; epicarp thick ; nut 
4-augled, compressed, with the shell thin. 

White Caeya. Shell-bark, or Shag-bark Hickory. 

S'.'eni 60-80 feet high, with the outer tarfc exfohating in long scales or plates, which 
generally adhere in the middle, while one or both ends are detached and elevated, making 
the surface verj- rough and shaggy. iea/?&'-3 mostly in 2 pairs with a terminal odd one, 
3 or 4-6, S or io inches long, the terminal one usually largest, and the lower pair much 
smaller. J.?}ie?ife at the base of the young growth, 2 or 3 -4 or 5 inches long, triple or 
3-parted on a common peduncle, smoothish, pendulous, with a linear-lanceolate bract at 
the base of each branch or lateral ament. Stamens mostly 4, — the anthers somewhat 
hairy. Pi.??(7Z«te ^on-ers terminal, mostly 2-3 together, sessile on a common peduncle. 
Fi-uit somewhat umbihcate at the ends, and depressed or sulcate along the sutures of tha- 
valves ; epicarp (or hull) thick and subcarnosely coriaceous, opening at maturity into 4 
distinct valves or pieces ; nut about an inch long, suborbicular or oval, compressed and 
somewhat 4-angled, white, — ^the shdl thin and frangible. 

Low lands ; along streaais, &c. New England to Carolina. 

Obs. The nuts of this tree are well known, and highly esteemed. I 
think there are some varieties, — with the bark less shaggy, the fruit with 
a thinner epicarp, a thicker shell, and the kernel of inferior quality. Tha 



"WAL^'UT FAMILY. 



305 



Thick Shell-bark Hickory, C. sulca'ta, -^ ''ft. is a nearly allied species 
found in Pennsvlrania and westward. It is distinguished by having 7-9 
leaflets, an oval -l-ribbed fruit with intervening furrows and a yellowish, 
thick-shelled, strongly-pointed nut. 

Seed small, but edible; valves of the hull only partially separating. 
3. C. tomento'sa, yi'tt- Leaflets 7-9, oblong or obovate-lanceolate, 





Tig. 195. Tne flo-^ors of the Mocker Nat Hickory (Carya tomentosa) the pistillate flo-w- 
ers above, the staminats ones in loose hanging aments. 196. A separate pistillate flower 
197. The ripe nut showing the hask (epicarp) splitting into 4 valves. - 



WEEDS AND USEFUL TLANTS. 



eiiglitly serrate, rough-downy below ; ameuts tomentose ; fruit globular 
or ovoid ; nut rather large, somewhat 6-angled, pale brown and thick* 
shelled. 

ToMENTOSE Carya. White-heart Hickory. Mocker-nut. 

(SfeTK. 60- 80 feet or more in height, — the dar^; with the fibres interlocked and not cx- 
fohating. Lmflels generally in 3 pairs with a terminal odd one, 3 or 4 - 8 inches long (the 
two lower pairs considerably smaller than the others), smoothish above, clothed with 
a roughish stellate pubescence beneath, and sprinkled with minute dark-purple par- 
ticles among the pubescence. Avienls 4-6 or 7 inches long, filiform, pubescent. Fistillaie 
flowers mostly in pairs, sessile on a short thick bracteate common peduncle. Fruit ovoid 
or oblong-oval, large (often 2 iiiches or more in length, and 1)4 in diameter) ; ejdcarp 
thick and coriaceous, opening by 4 valves more than half way to the base ; nut some- 
what 6-angled near the apex, — the shell very thick and bonj^, — the kernel rather small, 
and, though esculent, much inferior to the preceding. 

Upland forests : New England to Virginia. Fl. May. Fr. October. 

Obs. This species, also, appears to present several varieties, — some of 
them producing remarkably large fruit. All the Hickories are noted 
for affording good fuel ; but the wood of this one (which is white to 
the heart — while the others are more or less red, within,) is considered 
the best of all, for that purpose. It is replete, in early summer, with a 
sweet syrup-like sap, — and when cut, at that season, is much preyed 
upon by worms. The proper time for cutting it is the month of 
August. 

4, C. gla'bra, Torr. Leaflets 5-7, cvatc-lanccolale, serrate, nearly 
smooth ; fruit pear-shaped or roundish, thin ; nut smooth and even, thiu- 
nish-shelled but hard. 

Smooth Carya. Pig-nut Hickory. Broom Hickory. 

stem 40-60 or 70 feet high, with a close bark, and numerous tough branches. Leaflets 
usually in 3 pairs (not unfrequently in 2-4 pairs,) with a terminal odd one, 2 or 3-5 or 6 
inches" long, generally smooth on both sides — sometimes a little pubescent beneath — 
sprinkled with minute purple particles. Aments ternately branched or in pairs 2-4 or 5 
inches long, filiform, smoothish. Puiillate fmvers terminal, solitary, or 2 or 3 sessile and 
rather distant on a common peduncle. Fndt rather small, subglobose, oblong, or obo- 
void, — the obovoid variety often a little compressed and refuse, or obcordate ; epicai-p 
thin and coriaceous, opening partially (at summit) bj' 4 valves ; nut smooth and even, — 
the shell often hard, but sometimes thin and frangible ; Iceimd often astringent and 
bitter, — sometimes esculent, but of inferior qualitj^ 

Jdoist woodlands and low grounds : New England to Carolina. Fl. May. J^-. October. 

Ohs The young saplings of this species were much used, formerly, for 
making splint brooms ; and the tough sprouts, or seedling plants, are 
often employed as ligatures, in rural economy, under the name of hick- 
ory withes. The wood of the older trees is used by wheelrights for 
making axles of carts and wagons : and, like that of all the species, is 
much esteemed for fuel. The small fruited Hickory, C. microcar'pa, 
Nutt., has similar foliage but is distinguished by its very small fruit, 
which is only | of an inch in diameter. The Bitter-nut, C. ama'ra,iV?</^., 



OAK FAiriLT. 



307 



is another species resembling' the Pig'-nut, having small thin-shelled uuts, 
the kernels of which are intensely bitter. 



Okder LXTIl. CUPULIF'EK^E. (Oak Family.) 



Trees or sTirulis with alternate simple penni-nerved leaves, deciduous dipitles and monoe- 
cious floicers ; the staminaie ones in cylindrical (capitate-clustered in the Beech), aments ; 
the jristillate solitary or clustered, furnished with an involucre which forms a kind of c^lp 
(cwj7w/€) to the 1-celled 1-seeded indehiscent nut. Orari/ 2- 7-celled with 1 - 2 ovules in 
each cell ; all the cells and ovules but one disappearing in the fruit. Calyx-tule adherent 
to the ovary, the minute calyx-teeth crowning its summit. Seed without albumen, filled by 
the einlryo, — ^the cotyledons thick and fleshy. 

* Fertile flowers scattered or few in a cluster. 
Involucre 1-flowered, of.many little scales, forming a cup around the 

base of the hard, rounded nut or acorn. 1. Quercts. 

Involucre 2-3 flowered, forming a prickly bur, enclosing 1-3 nuts 

and sphtting info 4 thick valves. 2. Castaxea. 

Involucre 2-flowered, prickly, 4-valved, containing 2 sharply tri- 
angular nuts. Sterile flowers in small head-like clusters. 3. Fagus. 
Involucre 1 -2-flowercd becoming a leafy cup, much enlarged and 
cut or torn at the apex, longer than the bony nut. 4. CoRTLrs. 
** Fertile flowers clustered in a kind of ament. 
Involucre an open 3-lobed leaf, 2-flowered. Fruit a small ovoid nut. 5. Carpixcs. 
Involucre a bladdery bag, 1-flowered, the whole catkin in fruit ap- 
pearing like a hop. Fruit small and seed-like. 6. Ostrta. 



]. QUER'CUS, L. Oak 

[The ancient classical name.] 

^TA^MiXATE Fl. Aments slender, pendulous, without bracts. Calyx 
6-8- (mostly 5-) parted. Stamens 5-12 ; anthers 2-celled. Pistillate 
Fl. scattered or clustered. Involucre 1-fiowered, — formed of minute 
bracts, and scales, imbricated in many series, and coalesced into a cup, 
and becoming ^voody or bark-like. Calyx adherent to the ovary, — the 
limb 6-toothcd. Ovary 3-celled ; ovules in pairs in the cells, collateral, 
suspended ; stigmas as many as the cells of the ovary. Nut (or Acodi) 
by abortion 1-seeded, ovoid or oblong, mucronate, coriaceously woody, 
embraced and more or less included by the indurated cup-like involucre. 
Seed pendulous ; testa membranaceous, thin ; cotyledons plano-convex, 
thick and fleshy. Mostly trees with greenish or yellowish flowers, the 
pistillate ones quite inconspicuous ; all appearing in May, and the fruit 
generally mature in Octol^er. In a portion of our species the acorns are 
biennial, — i. e., 2 years in coming to maturity. This peculiarity serves 
to divide them into 2 sections which are subdivided into grcvps distin- 
guished by the outline of the leaves. 

§1. Fruit annual (ripening in the fall after flowering) ; clusters mostly 
peduncled : leaves not bristly-pointed or toothed. 

* White 0.iK Group. Leaves obtusely sinuate or pinnatifld lobed, all 
pale, whitish or gray'sh-dotvny underneath. 



308 



WEEDS AXD USEFUL PLANTS. 



1. Q. macrocar'pa, Mx. Leaves deeply and 
somewhat lyrately sinuate-lobed, the lobes ob- 
tuse, sparingly and obtusely toothed ; acorn 
very large ; cup hemispherical, fringed above 
with hard and thick-pointed scales, the upper- 
most of which are awned ; nut ovoid, more than 
half immersed in the cup. 
Large-fruited Quercus; Bur-oak. Over- 
cup Oak. Mossy-cup White Oak. 

T/'wnfc 40-60 feet high. Zeares oh ovate in outline, 6 -12 
inches or more in length ; the smaller ones entire. Acorm 
I-II3 inch long, sometimes entirely enclosed in the con- 
spicuously fringed cup. 
West Nevv' England, west and southwest. 

Obs. A handsome middle-sized tree with luxu- 
riant foliage and remarkably large acorns. 
The wood is valuable for those uses which re- 
quire stiff and durable wood. As a fuel it 
takes rank with the White Oak. A variety with 

narrower and more deeply lobed leaves and oblong fruit is the Quercus 
olivasfor'mis of Michaux. 





183 



2. ^, ofctiisi'loba, Mx. Leaves tawny pu- 
bescent beneath, obovate-oblong, cuneate at 
base, irregularly sinuate-lobed, the upper 
lobes larger and often 1 - 3-notched ; acorn 
roundish ovoid, rather small. 
OsTusE-LOBED QuERCus. Barrens White Oak. 
Post Oak. Rous-h Oak. 



stop. 20-40 or 50 feet high ; branches irregular, 
spreading, densely pubescent when young. Leaves 4-6 
inches long, thick and coriaceous, mostly with 3 un- 
equal lobes on each side and unequal angular sinuses — 
the upper surface smoothish and shining (often roughish 
with short fasciculate hairs, when young), the under 
surface pale ferruginous, or tawny, and clothed with a 
stellate pubescence ; petioles about half an inch long. 
Acorn rather small, oval or roundish-ovoid, with the 
apex often depressed or umbilicate — the lower half em- 
braced by the scaly hemispherical cup, which is sessile, 
or the fruit often in small clusters on a common pe- 
duncle. 

Dry sterile hills. Massachuse Its, west and south. 



Obs. This tree seems to be confined to barren hills, and exposed ridges 



Fir,. 198. The Bur or Over-cup Oak (Quercus macrocarpa). The figures of all the oaks 
represented hero arc less than half the natural size. 

Fig. 199. The Post or Rough Oak (Quercus obtusiloba.) 



OXK FAMILY. 809 

The wood is Tery duiable, and much valued for posts, &c. It also 
makes excellent fuel. 

3. Q,. al'ba, L. Leaves oblong, pinnatifid-sinuate, — lobes nearly equal, 
oblong, obtuse, mostly entire, the sinuses narrow ; cupule somewhat 
bowl-shaped, tuberculate ; acorn ovoid-oblong. 

White Quercus. Common White Oak. 




Sem 60-80 and 100 feet high, and 2-4 or 5 feet in diameter, with a whitish or light 



Fig. 200. A flowering branch of the White Oak (Quercus alba) , showing the amenta of 
gtatninate flowers. 201. A separate staminate flower. 202. A leaf and acorns. 



310 



WEEDS AND USEFUL I'LANTS. 



grey bark. Lea^^esi-Q inches long, subcoriaccoiis, smooth, nearly equally pirnatifld.- 
usually with 3-4 lobes on each side (sometimes cuneate and 3-lobed) ] petioles halt an 
'•nch to an inch long. Acorn rather large, seated in a shallowish bowl-shaped cup, which 
•R pubescent and rough externally with roundish tubercles — the fruit generally in pairs, 
sessile on a common peduncle about half an inch long. 
Woodlands, throughout the United States : often abundant in moist low clayey grounds. 

0^5. This is one of our finest and most valuable forest trees, — and 
frequently attains to an enormous size. Its prevalence, however, is not 
so indicative of a good soil, as that of the Q,. tincto'ria, or Black Oak. 
The timber is firm and durable, though somewhat liable, when in the 
form of boards and scantling, to warp or spring. It is extensively used 
in the mechanic arts, — especially by the wheel-wright, the mill-wright, 
and the ship-wright. The keels of some of our finest national vessels 
have been obtained from this Oak. It also affords the best quality of 
coopers' stuff, for making liquor-casks. The bark is astringent and 
tonic, and is frequently employed in medical practice. The acorns are 
sweet, affording a nutritious and favorite food of swine. On young 
trees the leaves are remarkably persistent, after they are killed by the 
frost, in autumn. 

** Chestnut Oak Group. Leaves coarsely and obtusely sinuate-toothed, 
but not lobed, whitish, and more or less downy beneath : cup hoary ; acorns 
sweetish. 




4. Pri'mis, L. Leaves obovate 
and elliptic-oblong, acute or acu- 
minate, finely pubescent beneath, 
coarsely and nearly equally sinuate- 
dentate, — the teeth obtuse ; fruit 
on short common peduncles ; cupule 
nearly hemispherical ; acorn oval. 

Swamp Chestnut Oak. Chestnut 
White Oak. 

stem 60-80 or 90 feet high, and 2-3 or 4 
feet in diameter. Leaves 5-8 inches long, 
peuni-nerved with a coarse obtuse tooth for 
each nerve, and a small callus at the apex 
of each ; peiicles 1-near 2 inches long. 
Fniit in pairs (1 often abortive), on a com- 
mon peduncle about half an inch long. 
Acorn large, oval or ovoid-oblong, seated in 
a scaly bowl-shaped cup which embraces 
nearly one third of the nut. 

Moist low woodlands : Pennsylvania to 
Florida. 



065. This species, which is often a fine tree, presents some marked 



Fig. 203. The Swamp ChestnutOak(Qucrcus Prinus.) 



OAK FAMILY. 



311 



rarieties whieli were formerly considered as species, but wh:ch are 
now ouly regarded as varieties due to soil and situation. The variety 
monti'cola, Mx., (Quercus monta'na, WiUd.,) known as the Rock 
Chestnut Oak, is a form growing in hilly woodlands, and has more valua- 
ble timber. Yar. discolor, Mx. (Q. " bicolor, Willd..) is the Swamp 
White Oak ; it has the leaves more deeply toothed and densely whitish - 
downy beneath, and the upper scales of the cup are sometimes awned so 
as to fsrm a fringed margin. Quality of the wood variable. 

The acorns of all the varieties are sweet and nutritious, and sought 
after by swine. 

5. Q. Casta'nea, Willd. Leaves oblong-lan- 
ceolate, acuminate, pubescent and cinereous 
beneath, nearly equally dentate or sinuate- 
serrate, — the teeth rather acute, and callous at 
apex ; fruit subsessile ; cupule nearly hemis- 
pherical ; acorn elliptic-ovoid. 
Chestnut Quercus. Chestnut Oak. Yellow 
Oak. 

Slcvi 40-60 or 70 feet high, and 1-2 feet in diameter. 
Leaves 3-6 inches long, the points of the teeth (and 
along the whole margin) callous, the upper surface 
smooth and yellowish-green, the under surface unely 
pubescent and whitish or cinereous ; petioles half an inch 
to an inch long. Acorn rather small, seated in a pubes- 
cent bowl-shaped cup, which embraces one third of the 
nut, and is either sessile on the branch or on a short 
common peduncle. 

Mountains, slaty hills and banks of streams : Middle 
and Western States. 



Obs. This is often a fine tree, — though not so common, in Eastern 
Pennsylvania, as the others of this subdivision. It presents some 
varieties — at least in the leaves ; but they generally have a striking re- 
semblance to those of the Chestnut tree. The acorns are said to be 
more sweet and nutritious than those of any other species. There is a 
dwarf species, the Chinquapin Oak, (Q,. prinoi'des, Willd.,) belonging 
to this subdivision — common on sandy soil ; but it is two small and un- 
important to require a more particular notice here. 

g 2. Fruit biennial, not maturing till the second year after flowering, sessile 
or nearly so ; kernel bitter. 

* Live Oak Group. Leaves evergreen, nearly entire, hoary beneath. 




Fig. 20-1. Tlie Chestnut or Yellow Oak (Quercus Castanea). 



312 



■^VEEDS AXD USEFUL TLANTS. 



6. d. vi'rens, Leaves coria. 
ceous, elliptic - obloAg, somewhat 
toothed or angled on young trees, 
entire on old ones, with a revolute 
margin, rather acute at apex, but 
not mucronate, stellately pubescent 
beneath ; cupule turbinate, peduncu- 
late ; acorn oblong. 
Geeex Queecus. Live Oak. 

Slem 20-40 or 50 feot high, and 1 or 2 - 5 or 
6 feet in diameter, with numerous large wide- 
spreading crooked branches — the wood re- 
markably dense and heavy, with twisted 
gnarled fibres. Leaves an inch and a half to 
3 inches long, perennial, but a portion of them 
falling from the old trees every spring, dark 
green above, whitish beneath, on short 
petioles. Acorn ovoid-oblong or oval, of a 
dark brown color, seated in a bcwl-?haped 
pedunculate cup — the peduncle about au inch 
long, axillary. 
Sea coast : Virginia to Florida. 

Gos. This noted tree— so valuable in ship-building— is pretty niach 
confined to the sandy sea-coast of the Southern States. Its most norths 
ern locality appears to be at Old Point Comfort, near Norfolk, Virgi- 
nia, — where it is reduced to quite a small tree. Four or five other 
species, belonging to this group, are found in the United States — chiefly 
in the South ; but they are mostly small, and of little value. 

TTiLLOTT Oak Group. Leaves deciduous, entire, narrow. 

7. Q,. Phei'los, L. Leaves linear-lanceolate, tapering at each end, 
glabrous : cupule saucer-shaped ; acorn roundish. 

Willow-leaved Oak. AYillow Oak. 

Stevi 40-60 or YO feet hi?h, and 1-2 feet or more in diameter, with a smoothish bark 
Z^res 2-4 inches long, subsessile, entire or the young ones sometimes dentate. Acort 
small, subglobose, seated in a shallow saucer-like subsessile cup. 

Moist low grounds. New Jersey, Kentuckj" and South. 

Ohs. There are apparently some varieties of this, — or, if they are 
specifically distinct, nearly allied species. The tree sometimes acquires 
considerable size, — but the timber is not particularly valuable ; and as 
it is rather local in its habitat, is not much known beyond those limits. 

8. Q,. imbrica'ria, ^ia-. Leaves deciduous, lance-oblong or elliptic- 
lanceolate, acute at each end, mucronate. smooth and shining above, 
pubescent beneath ; cupule saucer-shaped : acorn somewhat hemis- 
pherical. 




Fig. 2C5. The I,ive Oak (Quercus virers). 



OAK FAMILY. 



313 



SiiixGLE Ql'eecus. Laurel or Shingle Oak. 

Stem 40-60 feet high, and 1-2 feet in diameter, vith a smoothish bnrk : branches 
numerous and irregular. Leaves 3-5 inches long, entire, somewhat crowded on short 
petioles. Acorn ra'iher small, roundish above, with a broad fiattish base so as to be 
nearly hemispheric;^.!, seated in a shallow subsessile cup. 

Banks of streams. I^ew Jersey, southward, and in the Western States. 




OJ)S. Thi.s species — being chiefly confined to the country west of the 
Alleghany Mountains — is but little known in the east ; and although 
deriving its specific name from the roofing material which it affords, its 
timber is said to be of an inferior quality — even for that purpose. 
»:< * * Black and Red Oak Group. Leaves deciduous., bristle-2)oiiitedj 
repaid or acutely sinuate-lob ed. 
t Mature leaves downy underneath. 

9. Q,. ni gra, L. Leaves somewhat coriaceous, cuneate, dilated at apex, 
retuse or obscurely 3-lobed, smooth above, covered with a russet pul- 
verulent iDubescence beneath, when young the nerves setaceously mucro- 

■ nate ; cupule subturbinate ; acorn ovoid. 

j! Black Querccs. Black Jack, Barren Oak. 

l' Stern 15-80 or 40 feet high, and 6-12 or 16 inches in diameter, with a thickish 
' furrowed dark-colored bark; bra-aches numerous. Leaves 5-S inches long, much dila- 
I ted at apex (4-6 inches wide), narrowed towards the base, on short petioles. Aconi 
1 ovoid, seated in a rather deep or bowl-shaped subsessile cup. 
Sterile soils : 'Suvf Jet&ej to Illiaois and southward- 

Ohs. This small tree— abundant in Maryland, and well known by the 
I name of " Black Jack," — is chiefly valuable for fuel. The nearly related 

Fig. 206. The Willow Oak (Qurcus Phellos.) 
Fig. 207. The Laurel or Shingle Oak (Quercus imbricaria). 208. An acorn. 

14 



314 



WEEDS AND USEFUL PLANTS. 



Water Oak, Q,. aquat'ica, Catesby, which has narrower leaves, tapering 
to the base, is found in wet grounds in the Southern States. 




10. Q,. falca'ta, Mx. Leaves elongated and rather narrow, sinuate- obed, 
or sometimes almost palmately 3-lobed, obtu'se at base, densely tomen- 
tose beneath ; lateral lobes falcate, the terminal one longer and trifid ; 
cupule shallow, subturbinate ; acorn roundish-ovoid. 
Falcate Quercus. Spanish Oak. 

Stem 40-50 or 80 feet high, and ] or 2-4 feet in diameter. Zeares 3-6 and 9 inches 
long, -with 2-4 or 5 (usually 3) distant more or less falcate entire lobes on each side — 
those on small trees or young branches often dilated and 8-lobed at apex, with the side- 
lobes diverging ; petioles about an inch long. Acoi'n small, seated ia a shallow saucer-like 
cup, Avhich is tapering at base and supported on a short peduncle. 

Sandy or sterile clay soils : New Jersey to Georgia. 

Obs. This tree (which is the genuine " Spanish Oalc,") — so far as I 
have observed— seems to be pretty much confined to that district, along 
the Atlantic coast, which is marked as alluvial on Geological maps. It 
is said to grow very large, in the South ; but is rather below an average 
size, near its northern limits. The timber is reddish, coarse-gi-ained and 
not very durable, — but is much used for the inferior kinds of coopers' 
stuff. The bark, however, is reputed as preferable to tha,t of every other 
species of Oak, for tanning. The dwarf species, known as Scrub Oak, 
or Bear Oak, is Q,. illicifo'lia, Wang. : it has obovate leaves with a 
wedge-shaped base, and angularly about 5-lobed. It is a worthless little 
species, 3-8 feet high ; abounding on poor soils from New England to 
Virginia and westward to Ohio. 



Fig. 209. The Black Jack or Barren Oak (Quercus nigra). 210. An acorn. 
ITia. 211. The Spanish Oak (Quercus falcata). 212. An acorn. 



OAK FAMILY. 



315 



ft Mature leaves glabrous on hoth sides, or nearly so. 
il. ft. tincto'ria, Bartr. Leaves obovate-oblong, siniiate-lobed, more 
or less rusty-puberulent beneath when young ; cup scaly, thick ; acorn 
ovoid. 

Dyee's QrERCUs. Black Oak. Quercitron. Yellow-barked Oak. 

Stem 60-SO or 90 feet high, and 2-3 or 4 feet in diameter, -with a thickish deeply 
furro"\ved, dark -colored epidermis, and a spongy yellow inner bark. Leaves 6- S inches 
long, obovate in their outline, mure or less deeply'sinnatc-lobed (usually 3 principal lobes 
on each side), the base obtuse or sometimes cuneately tapering, smoothish above, the 
under surface clothed with short steelate or fasiculate hairs -which present a pulverulent 
nppearance : petioles 1-2 inches long. Acorn rather small, ovoid, seated in a subsossile 
viip. -which is tapering at base. 

Eich upland forests : common. 




Oos. The wood of this species is not very durable, — neither is it much 
leemod for fuel ; yet, in consequence of its abundance, it is, or has been, 
very extensively used for fencing, firewood and shingles. The straight 
iibres, and facility of splitting the wood, no doubt recommended it for 
shingles. The inner bark is an article of commerce, under the name of 
Quercitron ; and is exported in large quantities to Europe, where it is 
employed in dyeing yellow. It has nearly superseded the use of Weld 
(Reseda luteola, L.) in calico printing. The prevalence of this fine tree, 
in woodlands, is an indication of a good soil for Agriculture. 
12. Q,. COCCi'nea, Wang. Leaves oval in outline, deeply sinuate- 
pinnatifid, with broad open sinuses, smooth and shining green on both 
sides ; cup conspicuously scaly ; acorn roundish-ovoid or globular. 



Fig. 213. The Black Oak or Quercitron (Quercus tinctoria). &14 An acorn. 
Fig. 215. The Scarlet Oak (Quercus coccinea). 216. An acorn. 



316 



"WEEDS A^'D USEFUL PLAXTS. 



Ciiiiisox QuEEcrs. Scarlet Oak. 

jSiem 60-90 feet high, and 2-3 or 4 feet in dianieter. Leaves 5-8 inches long, deeply 
Jobed (usnally 4 principal lohes on each side), the sinuses ronnded and wider atbottoni, 
the base obtuse or sometimes rather cuneate, both surfaces smooth and shining green, 
with a dense pubescence in the axils of the nerves beneath — ^finally becoming "red and 
spotted -with deeper crimson; 'petioles 2-4 inches long. Acorn roundish, depressed or 
slightlv umbilicate at apex, — the lower half I mm ersed in a rough scaly cup. 

itich moist woodlands. Is ew England to Georgia. 

Ob8. The. bark of this tree is much sought after by our Tanners. ^;vho (nol; 
being acquainted with the ^. falea'ta,) erroneously call it ■• Spanish Oak," 
anci give it the preference over all the other Oaks that are common here, 
for their business. The crimson leaves of this species, where it abounds, 
impart a gorgeous and magnificent appearance to our forests, in autumn ; 
and it is realTy marvellous that a tree so handsome at all seasons, should 
be so rarely seen in the lawns and pleasure-grounds of persons of any 
pretensions to taste. 



13. ru bra. L. Leaves oblong, smootli, sinuate-lobed, sinuses rather 
acute ; lobes incised-dentate with the teeth very acute ; cupula shallow, 
Baucer-shaped, flat at base, nearly even on the outer surface ; acom 
rather large and turgidly oblong-ovoid. 

Red QrERCus. Red Oak. 

60 - 90 feet high, and 2-4 feet in diameter. Leaves 5-S or 9 inches long, often 
gcimewhat obovate, rather obtuse at base, sinuate-lobed (usually S principal lobes on each 
side), the sinuses shallower and more acute than in the preceding species: petioles 1-8 
inches long. Acoi'ii oblong-ovoid, plump and rather large, seated in a broad flat-bottomed 




Fig. 217. The Red Oak (Quercus rubra). 21S. An acom. 



OAK FA5ITLY. 



317 



Wdcer-like sessile cup, of -which the scales are so compaot as to present a smooth or 
iieaily even surface. 

HiHy -woodlands : Northern and Middle States. Fl. May. Fr. October. 

Olts. Justice to myself, and to the truths of ISTatural History — as well 
as to Mr. Emerson, author of the admirable Report on the Forest Trees 
and. Shrubs of Massachusetts, — requires that I should here rectify a 
misapprehension under which I labored when I compiled the first edition 
of this work. I had always understood (of course from others— having 
no personal knowledge of the subject,) that the bark of this species was 
in high repute with the Tanners, — and so stated. But on a more careful 
and particular inquiry of intelligent and practical men, in that business, 
I learn that it is regarded as being much inferior in value to the bark 
of Q,. cocci'nea, — and am now satisfied that Mr. Emeesox is substan- 
tially correct in the statement that it is " almost w^orthless for the use 
of the Tanner." The timber of this tree is also of inferior value. 
14. palus'tris, Du Boi. Leaves oblong, deeply sinuate-pinnatifid, 




with broad rounded sinuses, lobes divaricate, acutely dentate ; cupule 
Baucer-shaped ; acorn subglobuse, small. 

Marsh- Quercus. Pin Oak. Swamp Spanish Oak, 

Stem AO - ^ or TO feet hiirh, and 1-2 feet in diameter, -with nnmero-as rather slender 
horizontal or drooping branches, which are frequently very knotty. Leaves 4-6 inches 



Fig. 219. The Pin or Swamp Spanish Oak (Quercus palustrls.) 



31S 



WEEDS AXD ITSZEUL FLAXTS. 



long, deeply lobed (r.stiallv 3 lobes on each side), — the lobes rather Barro'»T, diverging 
Ihe'baso of 'the leaves obtuse or often somewhat cuneate. both surfaces smooth, except ? 
tuft of pubescence in the axils of the nerves beneath ; petioles 1-2 inches long. Ac.07~n 
email (mostly numerous), seated in a smoothish shallow nearly flat-bottomed subsessile 
cup, which is often abruptly tapering from the centre of the base. 

"Wet low grounds, along rivulets^ &c. : I\ew England to Pennsylvania, and west to 
Illinois. 

OJ)S, The wood of this Oak is Tery firm, — and is much employed by 
wheelwrights, &c. It is quite common in Pennsylvania. — but does not 
appear to extend to the South. It would seem as if the Q,. falca ta, and 
this species, were distinctly located in the two great divisions of the U. 
States, Four or five additional species, belonging to this group, are 
found in the U. States ; but they are not very important, — and some of 
theoi are quite small and scrubby. 

2. CASTA'NEA, Tournef. Chestnut. 

pSTamed from a city of Thessaly {Casianea)\ famed for Chestnuts.] 
Stamixate Fl. interruptedly clustered in long naked cylindrical spike- 
form ar/ients. Calyx deeply 5-6-parted. Stamens 8-15; antJters 2- 
celled. Pistillate Fl. usually in threes, within ovoid squarrose soli- 
tary or clustered involucres. Calyx adherent to the ovary, — the limb 
5-6 lobed. Stamens 5-12, abortive, minute. Ovary 3-6 celled; 
ovules solitary, pendulous ; style bristle-like ; stigmas as many as the cells. 
Fruit a coriaceous prickly involucre, containing 1-3 nuts, and opening 
by 4 valves. JS'uts ovoid when single, plano-convex or compressed when 
two or three, — 1-seeded by abortion. Cotyledons thick, somewhat plicate 
and cohering together, sweetish and farinaceous. Floicers appearing 
after the leaves. 

1. C. ves'ca, L. Leaves oblong-lanceolate, acuminate-serrate, with coarse 
pointed teeth, smooth on both sides ; nuts usually 2 - 3 in each involucre. 
Eatable Castajstea. Chestnut, Chestnut-tree. 
Fr. Lc Chataignier. Germ.. Der Kastanienbaum. Span. Castaiio. 

Stem 60-SO or 90 feet high, and ^-4 or 5 feet in diameter. Leaves 6-9 inches long; 
petioles about half an inch long. Staminate jloicers small, whitish or ochroleucons. in 
slender, pubescent interrupted" spikes or cnnents, 4-S inches in length. — the iiorets 
crowded in dense bracteate clusters ; stamens long. Pistillate floicers mostly 3 together, 
in a scaly, squarrose ovoid involucre. Involuo^e usually solitary — sometimes S-4 in 
a cluster— subsessile, enlarging, finally globose, about 2 inches" in diameter, thickly 
covered with acute compotind'or coalesced prickles, opening at maturity by 4 valves or 
lobes, densely villous within. Xuts 8 (by abortion often 2 or 1), roundish-ovate, acumi- 
nate, reddish-brown, smooth below, the r/pper half covered with a greyish-tawny pubes- 
cence ; the middle nut flatted on both sides, the lateral ones convex'or gibbous exter- 
nally, and when the lateral ones are both abortive, the central one beoomes roundibli- 
ovoid. 

Upland forests : throughont the United States. Fl. June. Fr. October. 

Ols. The American Chestnut-tree is scarcely more than a variety oi 
the European, — the chief difference being in the size of the fi'uit. The 
nuts of our native Chestnut-tree are smaller, and the kernels much 
sweeter, than those of the European variety — or Spanish Chestnut,'' 



OAK FAMILY. 



319 



as it is commonly called. The wood of the Chcslnut-tree is light, easily 
split, and rather brittle, — yet very durable ; not esteemed for fuel, but 
highly valued for making fences. The tree is of rapid gTOwth, — being 
speedily reproduced, by suckers from the stump, when cut otf — and 
therefore well calculated to keep up a supply of fencing timber. 

2. C. pn'mila, il/^. Leaves obovate-oblong. acute, serrate or denticu- 
late, whitisli-tomentose beneath ; nut solitary, ovoid, small. 

DwAEF CASTA^'EA. Chinquapin, 

Stem 6-10 or 12 feet hiali. Leaves 2-6 inches longr. mHcronatcl}- serrate or .sometimes 
denticulate, green and snioothisli above, clothed with a soft dense cinereous tonientum 
beneath : jtciioles about half an inch in length. JSiaminafe florcers in aments, 1 or 2-4 in- 
ches long, slender and numerous. Invohicrcf) of the pistillate flowers in spikes, or clus- 
tered on'short tomentose axillary branches or common peduncles, enlarging, finally glo- 
bose, an inch or an inch and a half in diameter, pubescent and prickly, opening at summit 
with 4 lobes or valves, 2^ut {bj abortion ?) constantly solitary, small, ovoid, acute, dark 
bro^vn. pubescent at summit. 

Sterile soils : S. Pennsylvania to Florida. Fl. June. Fr. Oct. 

01)8. This shrub is rarely seen north of Maryland. The kernels are 
remarkably sweet and pleasant to the taste, but are scarcely half the 
size even of our native Chestnut. The seeds of both Chestnuts and 
Chinqi?apin — and especially of the latter — are very subject to be preyed 
upon by worms. 

3. FA'GUS, Tournef. Beecit. 

[Latin, — from the Greek, phago^ to eat ; the fruit being esculent.] 

Staminate Fl. in globose long-peduncled pendulous clusters, with de- 
ciduous scale-like tracts. Calyx campanulate, 5-G-cleft. Stamens 
8-12. Pistillate Fl. usually in pairs, within an ovoid pedunculate 
involucre, which is formed of numerous united awl-shaped flexible dracts. 
Calyx-lobes 5-6, awl shaped. Otary 3-celled ; ovules 2 in each cell; 
styles 3, filiform ; stigmas lateral. JWts acutely triquetrous, usually two 
in the leatheiy, softly prickly, 4-valved involucre. Cotyledons thick, 
fleshy, irregularly plicate. Trees with a thin, smooth, ash-colored barl^^ 
horizontal branches, long pointed hucls and greenish-yellow ^ctcers. 

i 1. F. ferrugin'ea, Ait. Leaves oblong-ovate, taper-pointed, more or 
less toothed, ciliate ; the scales of the involucre spreading or recurved. 

Ferrugixous Fagus. Beech Tree. American Beech. 

Fr. Le Hetre. Germ. Die Buche. Span. Haya. 

Stem 40-80 feet or more in height, with a thin even-surfaced whitish bark. Leaven 
S-5 inches long, penni-nerved, and plicate along the nerves while young, silky-pilose, 
, finally smoothish on the upper surface ; petioles one-eighth to half an inch long; stipules 
\ loiig, linear, membranaceous, tawny, caducous. Arnents of staminate flowers very 
numerous, loosely subglobose, silky pubescent, pale greenish-yellow, on slender silky- 
piloiie peduncles an inch or an inch and a half long. Involucres of the pistillate flowers 



320 



WEEDS AlsB USEFUL PLANTS. 



fewer, on rigid axillary peduncles abont half an incli long. 2^ui-s puLescent, pale reddish 
trov%-n. 

Low moist -woodlands; throughout the United States. Fl. May. Fr. September- 
October. 

Ods. The densit}^ and uniform texture of the wood render it vrduable 
for many purposes, — such as plane-stocks, and other implements of the 
mechanic arts. The leaves, especially of young trees, are remarkably 
persistent, after they are killed by frost, often rei;Qaining on the branches 
until late in the ensuing spring. The oily seeds afford a nutritious food 
for swine. 

The Beech, although a symmetrical and pretty tree, is seldom culti- 
vated in this countr}^ either for shade or ornament. And yet it would 
seem, from Viegil's Pastorals, that in the land of siceet do nothing 
("dolce far niente "), the Italian peasant of ancient tim.es found an en- 
viable enjoyment under its spreading branches : 

'" patulae recul/ans suli tegmine Fagi."" 



A. COR'YLUS, Toimief, Hazle-xut. 

[Greek, Korys, a helmet, or cap; in allusion to the involucrate fruit.] 

Stamixats Fl. Aments cylindric, Vv'ith imbricated bracteal scales. 
Cahjx of two collateral scales beneath the bract, and all three united at 
base. Siamens 8 ; anthers 1-celled, subsessile, bristly at apex. Pistil- 
late Fl. froi^ subterminal buds, in small clusters at the ends of the 
branches ; involucre of 2-3 (at first minute but subsequently enlarging) 
villous leaflets, which are lacerate on the margin and coherent at base, 
embracing 1 - 2 flowers. Calyx adherent to the ovary, — the limb xery 
minute, denticulate, villous. Oxary 2-celled ; ovules solitary ; stigmas 2, 
elongated, filiform. Nut (by abortion) 1-seeded, roundish-ovoid, obtuse, 
subcompressed, bony, smooth, solitary in the enlarged foliaceous lacerate- 
dentate involucre. Shrubs : the flowers preceding the leaves. 

1. C. Avella'na, L. Leaves orbicular cordate, acuminate; stipules 
ovate-oblong, obtuse ; involucre about the length of the fruit. 

Avellan Coeylls, Filbert. Hazle-nut. 

Stem 0"-lO feet high, branching from the base. Leaves 3-5 inches long, often oboTate- 
cordate, doubly serrate; petioles i-i an inch in length. Pistillate flowers f<:^ ^xv 
scaly clusters, — the scales (or tracts) enlarging, uniting and forming the involucres. Stig- 
mas ])urp]e. Nuts rather large. 

Yards, &c. Native of Asia Minor. Fl. March. Fr. Sept. 

Obs. The Filbert, or Hazle-nut of the old world is now becoming 
known among us, — and not unfrequently cultivated. " The bushes 
were originally im.ported into Italy from Pontus, and [the fruit] known 
among the Romans by the appellation of Kux Fontica, — which, in the 
progress of time was changed into that of Nux Avcllana ; from the 



OAK FAMTLT. 



321 



place [Avella, near Xaples] where they had been most successfully 
propajTated." The young forked twigs of this shrub constitute the cel- 
ebrated divining rod with which certain imposters beyond the Atlantic 
prrtond to discover the localities of precious metals and subterranean 




fountains. The imposture, and the credulity on which it operated, have 
both reached our shores: but the Filbert not being indigenous here, a 
capital substitute was discovered in the Witch Hazel (Hamamelis) ! 
The twigs of Peach trees also, have been found to answer the purpose 
nearly as well as the \Yitch Hazel ; and thus the occult sciences of orc- 



FiG. 220. A flo-.verins: branch of the cnltirated Filbert or Hazel-nut (Corylus Arellana). 
the staininate flowers in long aments, the pistillato ones in small bud-like' clusters. 221. 

scale from the aments. showing the anthers beneath it. 222. A pistillate flower with 
the involucre spread open. 223. A branch iu fruit, the nut surrounded by the enlarged 
l&d'y involiicrc. 



322 



WEEDS AXD USEFUL PLANTS. 



finding, and water-smelling have been enabled, in some degree— even In 
this " progressive " age — to keep pace with the sublime mysteries of 
Clairvoj'ance, and Spiritual Rappings, as well as with the lucrative 
manufacture of Panaceas, and Indian Specifics. It is indeed both hu- 
miliating and discouraging to contemplate the facility with which a 
large portion of mankind can be made the dupes of such miserable 
trumpery. 

2. G. A.nierica'lia, MarsJiaU. Leaves orbicular cordate, acuminate ; 
stipules ovate ; involucre ventricose-campanulate, much larger than the 
nut, with the limb compressed, dilated, lacerately many-clefl. 

Americajst CoRrLTJS. Hazle-nut, "Wild Filbert. 

Shy^uh. Stem4:-Q feet high, si en clcr, branching, — the yonng branches rirgate, pubes- 
cent and glandular hispid. Leaves 3-6 inches long, varying from roundish-cordate to 
ovate and obovate, dentate-serrate, pubescent; jpeY^oZe-s one-fourth of an inch to an inch 
long. Stipules ovate lanceolate, caducous. Aments preceding the leaves, 1-3 inches long. 
Pistillate Jlowers in pedunculate squamose clusters, — the scales finally enlarging, uniting 
and forming the involucres of the nuts. Nut subglobose, somewhat compressed at apex, 
rather wider than long, finely pubescent, embraced by the subcoriaceous involucre, which 
is twice as long as the nut, glandular-hirsute esternally, ventricose at base, Avith the limb 
bilabiate and irregularly lacerate-dentate. 

Borders of thickets, fence-rows. &c. ; throughout the United States. Fl. March -April. 
Fr. Sept. 

Ohs. This shrub is generally well known for its esculent seeds, though 
I believe it has never been thought worth while to cultivate it. There 
is another native species common northward, the Beaked Hazle-nut (C. 
rostra'ta,-^/^.)j "^hich has the involucre prolonged into a bristly beak 
extending an inch beyond the nut. 

5. CARPI'NUS, L. HoR^-BE.VM. 

[The ancient classical n.ame.] 

Stamixate Fl. in lateral drooping aments with simple ovate scale-like 
tracts, without a proper calyjc. Stamens 12 at the base of each bract; 
antliers 1-celled, hairy at apex. Pistillate Fl. in pairs, with small de- 
ciduous tracts and enlarging foliaceous 1-sided involucres, aiTanged in iev- 
minalloose ament-liJ^e racemes. Ovo.ry 2-celled. Stigmas 2, filiform. Kuts 
in pairs, small, ovoid, sub-compressed, striate-ribbed, stalked, each with 
a 1-sided enlarged open and leaf-like inwlucre. Shrubs or small trees - 
with obtusely and irregularly ridged trunks, a thin smooth ash-colored 
ljarl\ and Jiowers preceding the leaves. 

1. C. America'na, Mx. Leaves ovate-oblong, doubly serrate ; involu- 
cres 3-lobed, sub-hastate, unequally cut-toothed on one side. 

Americajs Caepixus. Horn-beam. Iron Wood. Water Beech. 

Stem 10-20 feet high, often branched from the root, and growing in clusters. Leaves 
2-4 inches long; petioles i-\ an inch in length. Pistillate aments 2-3 inches long. 
Involucres finally about an inch long. Nuts about 8-ribbed, smoothish, dark brown. 

Mnrgins of streams, SiC. : common. FL April. Fr. Sept. 



SVTEET-GALE FA3JILY. 



3-23 



Ghs A tree of Tcry slow growth, and does not attain to a verr great 
size. It is readily distingaished. by its peculiarly rigid trunk. The rich 
colors of its leaves in the fall add much to the variety and beauty of the 
autumnal scenery. The wood is exceedingly hard and close-grained, 
and is well suited for turned work, and for such purposes as require 
great compactness and solidity. 

6. OS TRYA, MicM. Ho? Hoenbeaat. 

[Greek, Osirean, a shell, or scale, — ^in allusion to the structure of*the fruit.] 

Stamtstate Fl. nearly as in Carpinus. Pistillate Fl. in terminal, 
loosely imbricated aments with small deciduous Irads. S-^ahs of -the 
involucre in pairs, hairy at base, .membranaceous, uniting by their mar- 
gins and enclosing 1-2 flowers. Ocary 2-celled ; S-or^'tV./, crowned 
with the entire and ciliate border of the calyx ; stigmas 2, subsessile. 
elongated, filiform. Fruit in a strobile (or cone), formed of the scales of 
the involucre, which are membranaceous, nerved, and coalesced into 
utricles or little sacs. Xuts solitary within the utricles, compressed, 
ovate-lanceolate, smooth, 1-seeded. Slender trees, with brownish, slightly 
furrowed larl\ and Jioicers ajDpearing with the leaves. 

1. 0. Virgin ica, Willd. Leaves ovate-oblong, acuminate, sharply ser- 
rate ; cones ovoid-oblong ; involucres thickly beset with tawny bristles 
at the base. 

TniGESTA2\ OsTRTA. Hop Horn-beam. Iron TTood. Lever-wood. 

Stitn 20-40 or 50 feet high, and 5-S or 10 inches in diameter. Leaves 2-4 inches long 
on short petioles. Staminate aments an inch to an inch and a half long. Pistillai'a 
amenis mostly terminal and solitarr, 1 to near 2 inches long, slender. and,VhiIe young, 
linear; f.oicers in pairs. — each pair subtended by an ovate-lanceolate tawny caducous 
tract ; each flower contained in a membranaceous sac formed by the united scales of the 
inrolucre, — the sac enlarging and becoming a bladder-like envelope of the nut, slightly 
inflated, ovate, imbricated^ and forming. altogether, at maturity, a pedunculate pendulous 
co7ie, about the size of and much resembling.'the Common Sop. 

Woodlands; New England to Carolina. ^Fl. April -May. Fr. Sept 

Ohs. The wood of this small tree is remarkably firm and tough ; and 
although neither very common nor very important, it may be well, per- 
haps, for the intelligent farmer to know what it is when he meets with 
it. According to Mr. EiiEKSOX, it is known by the name of Lever-wood 
in Xew England. 

Oeder LXYIII. MYRICAX'E^. (Sweet-Gale Family.) 

Shrubs with alternate, simple, resinous-dotted often aromatic, mostly sttpulate leaves and 
monoecious or dicecioiis jfoicers in small ainents. — the pistillate globose or ovoid; ovar'y 
1-celledwith a single erect otule surrounded by persistent scales; fruit a dry«2;^or 
Bometimes drupe-like and covered with a waxy secretion ; embryo without albumen. 

1. AnrPiI CA, L. Bayeeery. 

[The ancient name of some shrub.] 

Flowers dicecious Stamlnate Fl. in oblong or cylindrical aments. 



324 



WEEDS AND USEFUL PLAXTS. 



Stamens 2-8, filaments somewhat united below, beneath a scale-like 
Iract with a pair of Iractlets. Pistillate Fl. in small ovc id aments. 
Ovary with 3 scales at its base and 2 thread-like stigmas. Fruit a 
small globular nut covered w'ith wax-like grains. Leaves deciduous or 
evergreen, more or less serrate. 

1. M. cerif 'era, L. Leaves oblong-lanceolate, toothed towards the apex 
or entire, shining and resinous — dotted on both sides ; sterile aments 
loose, the braots naked ; fruit spherical, distinct. 

Wax-be APvixG Mteica. Bajberrj. "Wax-mjrtle. 

Shriib 3-8 feet high, much branched. Leaves 2-4 inches long and from half an inch to 
nearly an inch -nide, pubescent underneath. Flaicers appearing before the leaves are fully 
expanded. Sterile aments about half an inch long. Nats about the size of a pepper-coru 
encrusted with a whitish dry wax. 

Sandy soil ; along the Sea-coast and Lake Erie. Fl. May. Fr. Aug. - Sept. 

01)s. The foliage of this shrub is, when bruised, pleasantly fragrant. 
In New England the wax which invests the berries is collected in con- 
siderable quantities ; it is obtained by boiling the berries in water, 
when the wax melts and rises to the surface. Under the name of Bay- 
berry Tallow it is often used, in the rural districts at the east, to make 
candles either alone or mixed with tallow ; it is also employed in soap- 
making, and great quantities are consumed for an apparently insignificant 
use, — the stiflening of the ends of circular or solar lamp wicks. Anoth- 
er species, the Sweet Gale (M, Gale, L.)^ is also found along the bord- 
ers of ponds, but it has no important uses. Compto'llia aspleni- 
fo'lia, Ait., the Sweet Fern — well known for its fern-like foliage and 
aromatic odor, belongs to this order. An infusion of the leaves is of 
reputed value in dysentery, and the di-ied leaves afford material for 
juvenile cigars. * 

Opder LXIX. BETULA'CE^. (Birch Family.) 

Trees or sJiruhs with alternate simple leaves, deciduous stipules and monoecious Jloicers 
in sca.]y aments ; &rac^s 2-3 flowered ; involucre none; ovary 2-ce\\(id., 2-ovuled, becom- 
ing a compressed, often winged, dry and indehiscent 1-seeded nut. 

1. BET'ULA, Tourncf. Birch. 

[The ancient Latin name.] 

Staminate aments with the scales peltate, bibracteolate, 3 - flowered. 
Calyx a scale. Stamens 4; anthers subsessile, oblong, 1-celled. Pis- 
tillate aments with the scales 3-lobed, imbricated. Calyx, none. 
Ovaries 3 under each scale. Stigmas 2, filiform. Nut lenticular, sama- 
roid or winged. Mostly trees with the outer 'baric separable in thin 
horizontal sheets, that of the small branches dotted. Twigs and leaves 
often aromatic. 

* BarJc of the trunJc white ; 2>etioles slender : fertile catlins cylindrical^ 

peduncled. 



BIKCn FAMILY. 



325 



1. B. al'ba, var. populifo'lia, 

Spacli. Leaves triangular taper- 
pointed, unequally serrate, smooth 
on both sides. 

Poplar-leaved variety op the 
White Betula. White Birch. 

Trunk 20 - 25 feet high with a chalky-white 
hark and numerous slender branches. Leaves 
2-3 inches long, heart-shaped or somewhat 
truncate at base with a very long point: peti- 
oles half the length of the leaves. Fertile 
aments at first erect, but at length pendulous. 

Poor soils. Maine to Pennsylvania along 
ihe coast. Fl. April. Fr. August. 

Obs. A very graceful tree growing 
on the poorest soil. The wood, 
though not of the first quality for 
fuel, makes good charcoal. The 
straight stems of the young trees 
are used by farmers and gardeners 
as supports for bean vines, and the 
brushy tops arc similarly used for pea 

2. B. papyra'cea, Ait. Leaves 
ovate, acuminate, doubly serrate, — ■ 
the veins beneath hirsute, petioles 
glabrous ; lateral lobes of the fertile 
aments short, sub-orbicular. 

Paper Betula. Paper Birch. Ca- 
noe Birch. 

8tem 40 - 60 or 70 feet high, and 1 - 2 or 3 
feet in diameter; branches slender or flexible, 
— the shining brown bark dotted with white. 
Leaves 2-3 inches long; petioles about half 
an inch long. Fistillale aments about an inch 
long, pendulous on a peduncle three-fourths 
of an inch in length. 

New England and Canada. Fl. April - May. 
Fr. July- August. 

01)8. This tree is remarkable, as 
furnishing, in its thin, firm and dura- 
ble bark, the material of which 
the Aborigines of our country made 
their portable Canoes. Various 
other articles — as boxes, baskets, &c., 
are manufactured from the bark, wl 




readily separates into thin 



Fm. 224. The White Birch (Betula alba, var. populifolia). 
fiG. 225. The Canoe or Paper Birch (Betula papyracoa). 



826 



TV'EEDS AA'D TSEFUL PLAXTS. 



paper-like layers. The vrcod is valuable for some kinds of cabinet work, 
though it is not very durable, when exposed to the weather ; that of the 
heart is reddish ; the sap-wood white. 

^■^ Barld of tlie trunli reddisli-l/roicn or yeUoicisTL : petioles short : fertile 
catJrlns ozoid ohJong, scarcely pedunded. 



3. B. ni'gra, L. Leaves rhomboid- 
o"S'ate, acute, doubly serrate, entire at 
base, pubescent beneath ; scales of 
the fertile aments villous, —the lobes 
sub-linear, obtuse. 

Black Betula. Black Birch. Eed 
Birch. 

Stem- 40 - 60 or 70 feet high, and 1 - 2 feet in 
diameter. — the young trees and branches Tvith 
a smoothish cinnamon-colored bark, the onter 
layers of old bark exfoliating in thin revolute 
laminre or sheets. Leaves i - 4 inches long: 
fjetioJes 1 fourth to 3 fourrhs of an inch in 
length ; stipules small, oblong-lanceolate. 
Stdminate aments 2-3 inches fong, flexible 
and pendulous. Pistillate aments about an 
inch long, oblong, obtuse, on short peduncles; 
scales 3-cleft 2 thirds of their length, — the seg- 
ments equal, linear or spatulate-linear. obtuse. 
ITut compressed, ovate, with a membranace- 
ous margin \vhich is widest towards the base. 

Low grounds: banks of streams : Massachu- 
setts, Southward. Fl. April. Fr. August 




Ots. The timber is close-gi'ained and durable when not exposed to 
the weather. The wood is said to be highly valuable as fuel. The 
virgate branches were famous instruments in the hands of pedagogues, 
cf the olden time, in promoting good order and a close attention to 
study, among the rising generation, to which the poet Phillips refers, 
vrhen he sings of 

" affiictivo Birch 

Cursed by unlettered idle youth." 

But " the march of mind." in the present day, has rendered such auxili- 
aries nearly obsolete ! The flexible twigs of this species, — instead' of 
being used to stimulate idle boys to learn their lessons — are chiefly 
employed for making coarse brooms, to sweep streets and court-yards, in 
J ir cities. 



Fig. 226. The Black or Red Birch (Betula nigra). 



EIECH FAMIl.T. 



327 



4. B. len'ta, L. Leaves cordafe- 
oblong, acuminate, sharply serrate, 
hairy on the yeins beneath ; scales of 
the pistillate aments roughish-pubes- 
cent, — the lobes ovate-lanceolate, 
rather acute, prominently veined. 
Soft oe PLIA^"T Betula. Sweet 
Birch. Cherry Birch. 

Stem 80 -CO feet high, fiiKl 1-2 f.-ct in 
diameter ; branches numerous, slender, pli- 
able, smooth and dotted Aviih small \rliite 
scars. Leaves 3-4 inches long, tbinnish, 
varying from ovate oblong to obovate. mostly 
somewhat cordate, and often a little nnequal 
at base — the upper surface sprinkled vrlth 
long hairs — the margin and nerves beneath 
hairy: petioles about half an inch long, pilose. 
Scaminate aments 2, -^mches lonsr. larger than 
in the preceding species. Pistillate aments 
about an inch long, and two-thirds of an inch 
in diameter; scales 8-cleft nearly hr.lf their 
length — the lobes prominently keeled and 
nerved, hirsutely ciliate. ITut compressed, 
elliptic-obovate, acute at each end. -with a 
membranaceous margin -which is broader toward.i the summit, and somewhat ciliate, btit 
everywhere narrower than in the preceding. 

Mountain forests : throughout the United States. Fl. April. Fr. August. 

Ols. The wood of this species is colored reddish, — something like that 
of the "Wild Cherry {Cerasus serotiaa, DC.) ; and it is used, like that, in 
making cabinet-ware, bedsteads, kc. The bark and young twigs are 
pleasantly aromatic, — and were formerly employed in domestic brewings, 
diet-drinks, &c. The Tellow Birch (B. excel'sa, Ait.), which is com- 
mon northward, belongs in this group ; it is readily distinguished by its 
yellowish silvery or pearly bark. 




2. AL'XUS, TGurnef. ALDtr.. 

[The Latin name for the Alder?^ 

Sta^tixate ame:nts somewhat clustered, cylindric, drooping, with the 
miles peltate, 5-bracteolate beneath, 1 - S-iiowered. C'«/?/-.7; 4-parted. 
Stamens i, inserted at the base of the calyx-lobes, and opposite them • 
anthers 2-cellcd. Pistillate ame^sTS with the scales imbricated, fleshy. 
2-flowered. Calyx of 4 scale-like sepals, adhering to the base of the 
bracts, all persistent and becoming woody in fruit. Ovaries 2 under 
each scale, sessile, 2-celled ; ovules solitary, pendulous ; stigmas 2, fili- 
form. JVuts angular, sometimes winged. 

1. A., sermla'ta, TTlUd. Leaves obovate, sub-acuminate, doubly-ser- 
rul itc, smooth and green on both sides ; stipules oval, obtuse. 



Tig. 22T. The Sweet or Cherry Birch (Bctula lenta). 



TVEEDS AND USEFUL TLANTS. 



Serrulate Alkus. Common Alder. Candle Alder. 

Stem 8-10 or 12 feet high, and half an inch-1 or 2 inches in diameter, -n-ith crooked 
and rather rigid branches." Leaves 2-4 incites long, strongly nerved, sub-plicate, thick 
and subcoriaceons, smoothish ; petioles about half an inch long. Si<iminaie aments one and 
a half to near 3 inches long, cylindrical, slender, flaccid, pendulous and sub-fasiculate 
near the ends of the branches ; scales reddish-brown ; anthers yellow. Pistillate aments 
half an inch to near an inch long, oblong, rigid, dark purplish-brown, persistent, on short 
lateral branches below the stamiuate ones — ^whcn in flower, bristled wfth the dark-purple 
exserted stigmas. 

Swarops and margins of rivulets; throughout the United States. Fl. March- April. 
Fr. October. 

Ohs. This shrub is of little or no value, — and is only noticeable as a 
frequent intruder in swampy meadows, and along rivulets, — where, if 
neglected, the bush}^ growth soon gives the premises a slovenly appear- 
ance. It is true, the Alders often make a comfortable shade for the 
trout, in the little pools of our meadow rivulets ; but the tidy farmer 
likes to keep even the margins of those streams clear of weeds and 
bushes. The Speckled Alder (A. incana, Willd.) is found in similar 
situations in New England and northward. It is distinguished from the 
Common Alder by the polished appearance of its bark, and the whitened 
under surface of its leaves. 

Order LXX. SALICA'CE^, (Willow Family.) 

Trees or shruls. with alternate simple leaves, persistent and leaf-like or scaly and deciduous 
stipules and dioecious fioxcers in aments with 1-flowered bracts. Calyx and corolla none. 
Slain ens \- maw J. Ovary l-celled, or imperfectly 2-celIed. many -ovuUd ; styles 2, \evy 
short, or more or less united ; stigmas 2-lobed. Fruit a 2-valved X)od with numerous seeds, 
clothed with a long silky down. 

1. SA'LIX, Tournef. Willow. 

[The .ancient classical name.] 

Amejits with the scales or hracts entire. Staminate Fl. of 2 - 6 stamens 
accompanied l^y 1 or 2 little glands. Pistillate Fl. with a small 
gland at the base of the ovary on the inner side ; stigmas short. Ti^ees 
or shrubs with numerous round flexible branches ; leaves usually long and 
narrow, entire or glandular-serrate, from buds covered, by a single scale. 

* Aments appearing before the leaves., lateral and sessile: stamens 2, 

1. S. yimina'lis, L. Leaves linear lanceolate, very long and taper- 
pointed, white and satiny beneath ; ovary sessile, long and n-arrow, 
woolly or silky. 
Osier. Basket Willow. 

A large shrtib or small bushy tree, with long, straight and slender dranc7ies, tte young 
twigs yellowish and pubescent. Leaves 3- 6 inches long, of a satiny lustre beneath. Amenta 
cylindrical ovoid densely clothed with long silky hair. 
" Wet meadows and cultivated. Native of Europe. Fl. April. 

Obs. This species, the common Osier of Europe, is cultivated to some 
extent for its long flexible branches which are wrought irto baskets. 



T.'ILLOIV FAMILY. 



829 




229 




Tlie most of the Osier used in this countiy is imported ; the labor required 
in peehng the twigs will probably prevent that raised in this country 
from successfully competing with the foreign article. 

** Aments produced icith tJie leaves at the summit of short lateral leafy 
branches, pedundcd, long arid loose : Iranches hrittU at lase. 
t Ovary sessile, smooth : stamens 2. 

2. S. al'la^ L. Leaves elliptic-lanceolate, 
acuminate, denticulate, silky glaucous 
beneath ; stipules lanceolate ; styles short. 

White Salix. White Willow. 

Stem SO - 60 feet high, mnch branched : draneh.es 
rather erect, with aT pale greenish-yellow bark. 
Leaves 2-4 inches long, the lower teeth glandular ; 
2^etioles\-2 lines in length. Fistillate anienis 2-8 
inches long, greenish. 

About houses, »kc. IfatiTc of Europe. Fl. April. 

Ols. The White Willow, if I mistake not, i,*; the one which is pre- 
ferred, and cultivated, by the manufacturers of Gun Powder, for the 
purpose of making charcoal. It was introduced as a shade tree about 
our old settlements, but is now generally superseded by the Weeping 
AVillow. It is however partly naturalized in some localities. The var. 
Titellina, — Yellow Willow or Golden Osier, — has orange-yellow branches 
and rather shorter and broader leaves ; it is often seen, as a shade tree, 
and partly naturalized. 

ft Ovary stalTced, smooth: stamens 2-G. 

3. S. fra'gilis var. Eiisselliana, Carey. Leaves lanceolate, acuminate, 
serrate-dentate with the teeth incurved, somewhat glaucous beneath, and 
slightly silky while young ; stipules half heart-shaped ; styles con- 
spicuous. ^ 

Brittle Salix. Bedford Willow. 

Stem 30-50 feet high ; 'branches rather erect with a greenish-brown smooth Tjark. some- 
■what pubescent when young, remarkably brittle at base. Zear^s 2-4 inches long, acuto 
at each end. finally smooth ; petioles 2-6 lines in length, glandular and somewhat pubes- 
cent, ristilldte aments 2-2^ inches long. J^ods tawny-green. 

Low grounds. Isative of England. Fl. May. 

Ol)s. This is one of the species cultivated for basket work. 

4. S. Babylon'ica, L. Young branches very slender, flaccid and pendu- 
lous ; leaves linear-lanceolate, acuminate, sharply serrulate or nearly 
entire ; stipules minute, ovate, glandular-dentate ; aments recurved. 
Babyloxiax Salix. Weeping Willow. Drooping Willow. 



Tig. 228. Staminate flower of the White "Willow (Salix alba). consi?ting of two stamens 
with a gland at the base, borne on a scale of the ament. 229. A pistillate Cower, an 
ov.iry with a gland upon a scale of the ament. 



330 



^'EEDS AXD USEFUL PLANTS. 



Stem 30-50 feet high, and 2-8 or 4 feet in diaineter at base, widely branching above, — 
the young branches greenish, very numerous, slender, long and perpendicularly pendent. 
Leaves 2-4 or 5 inches long, narrow-lanceolate, the larger ones -with a long acumination, 
smooth ; petioles 1-2 lines tong. Pistillate aments about an inch long, mostly ascending 
or turned up, on the pendulous branches ; scales lanceolate, smooth. 

About houses : introduced. Fl. April. Fr. 

Obs. This elegant a,nd interesting species — a native of the East — is 
deservedly admired, and much cultivated, as a shade tree. The pistillate 
plant, only, has been introduced to this country. Its specific name was 
given, by Linn^us, under the idea that it might be the tree so touch- 
ingly referred to in the 137th Psalm : — " By the rivers of Babylon, 
there we sat down ; yea, we wept, w^hen we remembered Zion. We 
hanged our harps upon the Willows in the midst thereof." There are 
many others of this difficult genus, mostly native species, abundant in 
low grounds ; they are mostly low shrubs, and though great puzzles to 
the botanist, are of but little interest to the farmer. 

2. POP'ULUS. Tournef. PorLAR. 

[Latin, Fopiilus, the people ; the tree of the people; being used to shade public -walks.] 

Aments with laciniate or fringed bracts. Calyx subturbinate, — the 
limb oblique, lengthened in front, entire, surrounding the stamens or 
pistil. Stamens ^-I'l^ ov more; — the filaments free. Stigmas 2^ elon- 
gated. Capsule 1-celled, 2-valved. Trees wath more or less angular, 
often stoutish, l>rancJics ; duds with numerous scales covered with a res- 
inous varnish, and usually broad, more or less heart-shaped leaves on 
long laterally-compressed petioles. Flowers in long pendulous aments 
appearing before the leaves, — dracts and calyx similar in both kinds. 

1. P. tremuloi'des, Mx. Leaves cordate-orbicular, abruptly acuminate, 
unequally dentate-serrulate, pubescent on the margin ; bracts deeply 3 - 
4-iobed, divisions linear. 

Tkemula-like Populus. American Aspen. 

Stem 30-50 or 60 feet high, and 12-lS inches in diameter, with a smoothish-cinereous 
bark. Leaves about 2 inches in length, and rather wider than long; petioles 2-8 inches 
long, slender, smooth, subterete to'wards the base, laterally compressed or vertically 
dilated near the leaf, which disposes the leaf to bo agitated by the slightest motion of the- 
air. Pis^«7^r/ife araents 3-4 or 5 inches long. 

Low swampy grounds : Ifurthern and Middle States. Fl. April. Fr. May. 

Obs. This is a rather pretty tree, — and is occasionally planted about 
houses and lawns, for shade and ornament. It is admired for th-e ex- 
treme mobility of its leaves ; and is, moreover, in considerable repute 
for the tonic properties of its bark. The large-toothed Aspen, or Large 
Poplar (P. grandidentata, Mx?) is common northward ; it is a larger 
tree than the preceding and differs from it in having much larger, round- 
ish and coarsely-toothed leaves, and the scales of the aments cut into 5 
or (3 unequal small lobes. 



WILLOW FAMILY. 



331 



2. P. monilif era, Ait. Leaves broadl}^ deltoid, with spreading promi- 
nent nerves, slightly heart-shaped or truncate at base ; scales lacerate 
fringed, not hairj. 

IN'ecivLAce-beaiiixg Poplar. Cotton-wood. 

T)'?/??!- 40 -80 feet or more in height; the young shoots s]ight]y angled. Leaves 2 -Sinchoa 
Jon ET, and about the same width, serrate on the margin with cartilaginous, incurved and 
slitrhtly hairy teeth. Stirjmas nearly sessile, very large and dilated. 

Margins of streams : especially Westward. April. 



Oils. This tree has a wide rftngc, being found from the Atlantic to the 
Pacific. This and other species are popularly known as Cotton-woods, 
and in many regions form almost the only timber. It gets its specific 
name from the resemblance of the long ament of ripened fruit to a string 
of beads or necklace. Another of the Cotton-woods of the West and 
South is P. angulata, Ait., which has its branches acutely angled or 
winged ; both this and the preceding bear very large heart-shaped leaves, 
7-8 inches in length on the young plants and suckers, while on the old 
trees they are only about one quarter that size and not often heart- 
shaped at base. 

3. P. Ge^'ca, Ait. Branches terete ; leaves cordate-ovate, acuminate, 
obsoletely serrate, somewhat ciliate. 
Grecian Populxjs. Athenian Poplar. 

/ff^^m 80 - 50 feet high, and 1-2 feet in diametiir, with irregular and rather spreading 
bi'anches. Zea»cs 4- 6 or 8 inches in length, and as wide as long; petioles 1^-3 inches 
long, laterally compressed near the leaf. "Pistillate aments 3-6 inches long. 

About houses : cultivated. Native of Greece. Fl. April. Fr. 

Obs. This species was introduced, as a shade tree, about 40 years ago ; 
but it was not generally adopted, — and is now nearly superseded by 
more eligible ones. We have only the pistillate plant in this country ; 




m2\ 



Fia. 280. The Cotton-wood (Populus monilif?.ra). 2-31. A fringed scale from a staminate 
Bracnt. 232. Portion of a fertile amen . 



332 



WEEDS A^fD USEFUL PLAXTS. 



and the cotton which is shed from the capsules is so abundant as to 
render the tree objectionable, in the immediate vicinity of dwellings. It 
is stated in Selby's History of British Forest Trees (1842) that the 
North American Continent is probably the " real native country " of 
this poplar. If so, Aiton's specific name {Groeca) was an unfortunate 
misnomer ; a mistake, however, not uncommon in vulgar names. 

4. P. dilata'ta, Ait. Leaves much dilated, nearly deltoid, acuminate, 
serrate, glabrous on both sides. 

Dilated Populus. Lombardy Poplar. Italian Poplar. 

Fr. Peuplier Italien. Qer. Lorabardische Pappel. Span. Alamo de 

Lombardia. 

8tem 60-80 feet high, and 1-2 or 3 feet in diameter; brandies numcrons, nearly erect, 
forming a close conical symmetrical top. 2-3 inches long, and wider than long; 

jie^/o/e-s about 2 inches long, laterally compressed Bear the leaf. BtamiRcite amentsl-Z 
inches long. 

About houses and along avennes: cultivated. Native of Italy. i^Z. April. Fr. 

01)S. This w^as a favorite ornamental tree, for a number of years ; but 
a more correct taste has prevailed of late years, and we no longer see 
the long avenues of these stiff ungraceful trees that were formerly so 
common. Mr. Watson, in his Annals of Philadelphia, says it was in- 
troduced to that city, from England, in the year 1784, by William 
Hamilton, Esq., of the " Woodlands," west side of the river Schuylkill. 
The Botanical Editor of Eees's Cyclopsedia, however, thinks they have 
onl}'- the i)istillate plant in England, — whereas it was the staminate plant 
that was introduced by Mr. Hamilton ; and he may have procured it 
from Italy. All the Lombardy Poplars that are, or have been, in the 
U. States, may be considered as elongations, branches, or offsets, of 
the tree from which Mr. Hamilton obtained his specimen. 

5. P. al'ba, L. Leaves roundish heart-shaped, or often 3-lobed, 
coarsely toothed, smooth and green above, mostly white and densely to- 
mentose beneath. 

White PoruLus. Silver Poplar. Abele tree. 

stem 80-60 feet high, with spreading branches and smooth greyish-white bark. Leaves 
2-3 inches long, — sometimes glabrous on both sides when old; petioles 1 -2 inches in 
length. Arnents 1-2 inches long, the bracts finely laciniate and ciliate with white hairs. 

Ols. This species is often cultivated as a shade-tree. In point of 
beauty it bears no comparison with numbers of the natives of our own 
forest, while the numerous suckers which it sends up make it a real nui- 
sance. Some of the grass-plats in the public squares of New York have 
been quite overrun by the wide-spreading suckers of this tree • even in 
ciosely-paved streets they work their way up between the stones. It 
should be discarded altogether. 

The Balsam Poplar (P. balsamifera, L.) and its variety candicans, 
are found in the northern portions of the Union ; they have tlieir large 
buds covered with a fragrant resin or varnish. A tincture of the buds . 



833 



IS often made by the country people to apply to cuts and wounds, and is 
highly valued by those who like to see how such things will heal in spite 
of useless applications. The yar. candi cans, called Balm of Gilead, is 
frequently cultivated, as its fragrance in spring is exceedingly agi'ecable. 

SUB-CLASS n. 

GYMXOSPER'MOUS EXOG'EXOUS PLANTS. 

Pistil represented by an open scale or leaf^ or sometimes entirely want- 
ing ; the omdes and seeds consequently naked (i. e. without a proper 
pericarp) ; style and stigma none, fertilization taking place by a direct 
application of the pollen to the ovules. Cotyledons often more than -two. 

Order LXXL COXIF'ER.E. (Pixe Family.) 

Trees or shnihs vrith resinous juice, ueedle-sbapecl or awl-shaped leaves and moncedous or 
dicecinus ^/foicers in aments. irithout calyx and corolla. Ovules straight. Eriibryo in the 
axis of fleshy and oily albumen. 

A Tuluahle and very interesting Order of peculiar Botanical character, comprising some 
of the most magnificent trees known, and valuable fir their timber as well as for their 
products, which include the turpentines, resins, pitch, tar. itc. The woodv fibre of the 
plants of this order, under a high magnifying power, exhibits peculiar circular disks or 
markings. 

Pes'e Sub-f.uiily. 

Fertile flowers in aments, consisting of nnm.erous persistent carpcllnry scales, each scale 
-subtended by a bract; farming in fruit a strobile or cone. Ovules 2 at tiie base of each 
carpcllary scale, their orifice turned downwards. Seeds winged. Buds scaly. 
Leaves 2-5 in a cluster, from the axil of a thin scale, needle-shaped, 

evergreen. 1. Pixus. 

Leaves all scattered on the branches, evergreen. 2. Abies. 

L,eaveg many in a cluster on side-spurs, and scattered along the shoots 

of the season, mostly fallii^ in autumn. 3. Larix, 

Cypeess Sub-family. 

Fertile aments, consisting of a few carpellarv scales, without bracts, 
with one or several erect ovules at their base. Fruit a roundish 
strobile or drape-like. Buds naked. 

♦Flowers monoecious. Strobile dry, opening at maturity. 

Fruit of few oblong nearly fiat loose scales. Ovules 2. Leaves ever- 
green, scale-like, closely imbricated on the flattened branches. 4. Thuja. 

Fruit woody and round scales shield-shaped. Seeds 2 or more on the 
stalk of each scale. Leaves evergreen, scale-like or awl-shaped. 5. CtJPEESSTJi 

Fruit round and woody; scales shield-shaped and thickened. Seeds 2 
on the base of each scale. Leaves falling in autumn, linear, 2- 
ranked. 6. TAXODnrjL 

•♦Flowers mostly dioecious. Fruit berry-like, not opening at matu- 
rity. 

Fruit 8- 6 coalescent 1 -3-ovuled scales, becoming fleshy. 7. Junipertts, 



Yew^ Sub-Fa3iily. 

Fertile flower solitary, consisting of a naked ovule ripening into a nut- 
like or drupe-like seed. Ovary entirely wanting. Buds scaly. 
Ovule erect, surrounded at the base by an annular disk, which forms 

a berry-like cup around the nut-like seed. Leaves evergreen, linear. S. Taxttb. 
Ovule, &c., nearly as in Tasus : leaves broadly deltoid, deciduous. 9. SAHSBtrELk 



334 



WEEDS AND USEFUL PLAXTS. 



1. PI'NUS, L. Pine. 

[The cLissical Latin name.] 
Flowers monoecious. Staminate aments clustered in terminal spikes. 
Stamens numerous, inserted on the axis ; anthers subsessiie, 2-celled, 
opening lengthwise, covered at apex by the dilated scale-like connective. 
Fertile aments solitary or clustered ; the carpellary scales with de- 
ciduous dracts and each bearing a pair of inverted ovules at its base. 
Fruit a cone formed of the woody scales which are thickened at apex 
("except in the White Pines), persistent and spreading when ripe and 
dry; the nut-lilce seeds partly sunk in an excavation at the base of each 
scale, and icingecl by an adhering portion of its lining. Cotyledons 3-12, 
linear. jTrmwidi leaves in bundles of 2 - 5, needle-shaped, each fascicle 
from the axils of a chalfy scale. Fruit generall}^ maturing in the au- 
tumn of the second year after flowering. 




* Leaves 1 -o {rarely A) in a slicatJi : IjarTc roiigTi : cones icoody.^ scales 
tMcJcened at tlie end and mostly tiji^ped witli a spine. 

t Leaves in twos except in JS^o. 3. 
1. P. in'ops, Ait. Leaves rather short ; strobiles oblong ovoid, often 
curved ; spines of the scales slender and straight. 

Fio. 2^^3-3. A brnnch of a Pine with staminate aments at the top. 234. A stamen. 285« 
A branch Avith pistillate aments at the apex and the fruit (cone) belo-w. 2o6. A scale 
from the fertile ament with tu-o ovules at its base. 237. Scale from a ripe cone, with ono 
of the two seeds removed. 238 The germinating embryo of a Pine, with several cotylO" 
flons. 



PIXE FAillLY. 



PooE on Destitute ^I:^^us. Jersey or Scrub Pine. 

Stem 16-40 feet hizh, vrith straggling branches. Leaves H to near S inches long. 
S'.aminate c«??f ablorg-ovoid, violet-purple. Cones 2-4 inchts long. 
Barren Lills, &c. Ncav Jersey, southward. 

Ols. The wood of this tree is said to be of but little "value. 

2. P. resino'sa, Ait. Leaves from long sheaths, semi-cylindiical ; 
scales of the cones pointless. 

Resinous Pixus. Red Pine. 

Trunl: 70 -SO feet in height and of a nearly nniform diameter for two-thirds of its length; 
the hark reddish. Leaved ^-^ inches long, dark green. Cones about 2 inches long, some- 
times in clusters. 

iS'e\v England to Pennsylvania, north and west. 

Ohs. This tree is known in New England as the Norway Pine, a 
name which is applied in Europe to quite another tree. The wood is 
valuable, though less so than that of the Pitch Pine. 

3. P. mi'tis, Leaves in pairs, often in threes, slender, channelled, 
from long sheaths ; cones ovoid-conical, small ; scales with a small, weak 
prickle. 

Soft Pi^sUS. Yellow Pine (of the North). 

8tem 40-60 or SO feet high, and 1-2 feet or more in diameter, with the bark in rather 
broad flat scales. Leaves 3-5 inches long, slender, linear, dark green, mostly in paira 
(sometimes in threes, on young branches). "Strobiles (or cones) 2-3 inches long'. 

New England to Wisconsin and south ; abundant in New Jersey. 

Obs. This tree affords valuable lumber, — and is much employed in 
the construction of houses, and merchant vessels ; but is much inferior 
in quality to the Yellow Pine of the South. 

ft Leaves in threes^ [rarely sometimes in fours). 

4. P. rig ida, Miller. Leaves rigid, from very short sheathes ; cones 
ovoid-conical or ovate, often clustered ; scales with a short and stout 
recurved prickle. 

Rigid Pinus. Pitch Pine. 

TV^n/i- 30- 60 feet high, rugged and knotty from the bases of fallen branches. Leaves 
8-5 inches long, dark green, fiattish. Cones 1-8^ inches long. 
Sterile soil : New England, southward. 

Ohs. This species in barren and sandy districts forms woods where 
scarcely any other tree will grow. The wood is hard and filled with re- 
sin, and when it can be obtained free from knots, it forms valuable lum- 
ber for many purposes. It is used to some extent in ship building, and 
largely consumed as fuel, — especially for steam-engines. 

5. P. tae'da, L. Leaves long and rigid, with elongated sheaths ; cones 
oblong ; the scales with a short incurved spine. 

Loblolly or Old Field Pine. 



336 



WEEDS AXD rSEFUl. PLAXTS. 



Trmnk 50- 100 feet high, with a thick, coarse, deeply-furrowed hark. Leatu 6--1O 
inches long, light green. Co?ies 2-5 inches long. 
Virginia and southward. 

01)S. A much more abundant and less valuable tree than the next ; 
its wood containing much less resin. According to Elliott, " its seed 
is dispersed so easily and so universally over the country, that all lands 
which are thrown out of cultivation are immmediately covered with this 
tree." 

6. P. paius'tris, L. Leaves fasiculate in threes, very long ; scales of 
the branches pinnatifid, portions of them persistent ; strobiles elongat- 
ed, conoid, — the scales armed with small recurved spines. 

Marsh Pinus. Yellow Pine (of the South). Long-leaved Pine. 

Stern 80-100 feet high, and 2-3 or 4 feet in diameter, with a smoothish bark — the 
branches ronsrh with the persistent remains of the stipules (stipules ramentaceous). 
Leaves 9-15 inches long. Strobiles 6-9 Inches long. 

Sandy soils : Virginia to Florida, i^^. April. i^'^C August -September. 

Ohs. This is a most important and valuable species. It yields the 
firmest and most durable lumber, for house and ship-building, of any of • 
the genus. The superior " heart-pine" boards, for flooring, &c., and the 
string pieces for railroads (where a wooden superstructure is used), are 
furnished by this tree. " From the sap of the living tree," says Mr. El- 
liott, " most of the turpentine of commerce is obtained." Tar is pro- 
cured by charring the wood and roots of this, and other species, by 
a smothered fire, which melts the turpentine and mixes it wit}i the sap 
and juices of the wood. Pitch is the residuum, left by boiling far until 
the watery portion is driven off. The ground where this tree prevails, 
becomes thickly covered by the long leaves — which the Southern people 
call straw. 

* * Leaves in Jives : harTc smooth : scales of tlie cones neither thicliened nor 
jpriclihj-pointed at the end. 

7. P. Stro'bus, L. Leaves scarcely sheathed at base, long and slender; 
strobiles oblong, sub-cylindric, nodding. 

White Pine. Weymouth Pine. New England Pine. 

Stem 60 or 80-120 feet or more in he'ght, and 2-4 or 5 feet in diameter, straight and 
with a smooth bark — especially while young ; branches verticillate, slender, rather few 
and those near the summit when the Trees are crowded. Leaves 3 -5 or 6 inches long, 
linear, blush or glaucous-green. Strobile 3-5 inches long, somewhat curved; scales 
cuneate-obovate. 

Kich soils, bottom lands, along streams, &c. : Canada to Virginia. J?'/. May. Fr. Axig.- 
September. 

Ohs. This is also a most valuable tree, — furnishing an immense amount 
of lumber, in the form of boards and scantling, — and, of late years — 
since the Cypress has become somewhat scarce and dear — it is exten- 
sively wrought into shingles. Being fine-grained, and comparatively 
free from turpentine, the White Pine is much used for the interior wood- 
work of houses — except floors — for which purpose it is rather soft. 



PIXE FAMILY. 



S37 



2. A'BIES, Tournef. Spkuce. Fir. 

[The classical Latin name.] 

Stamiiiate aments scattered, or clustered near the ends of the branchlets. 
Conei with thin and fiat scales, not thickened nor spine-pointed at the 
apex. Seeds with a persistent wing. Trees with solitary, scattered, 
short and rather rigid evergreen leaves, which are frequently 2-ranked. 

Cones lateral, erect, the scales falling from the axis at maturity: leaves 
flat, hecoming 2-ranked, white underneath, blunt ornotched at the apex. ; 

1. A. balsa'mea, Marshall. Leaves narrowly linear ; cones cylindrical, 
large ; bracts obovate, serrulate, mucronate, slightly projecting, appressed. 

Balsamic Abies. Balsam Fir. Balm of Gilead Fir. 

Trunk 40 - 60 feet higb, with sj-mmetrical branches, forming a conical top ; baric smooth- 
ish, containing numerous small sacs or blisters, filled with a transi)arent liquid resin. 
Leace-i about X of an inch long, light green above. Cones 3-4 inches long and about an 
Laeh broad, violet purple ; the scales broad, rounded, thin and handsomely imbricated. 

Cold woo-ls and swamps ; northward. 

Obs. A c|uick-growing but short-lived tree, which is very handsome 
when young, but becomes rugged and unsightly Vvhen old. It is fre- 
quently cultivated about houses, for ornament, and is easily transplants 
ed. The resinous liquid which is contained in the blisters in the bark, 
known as Canada, or Fir Balsam, is procured by puncturing the reser- 
voirs and catching the liquid as it exudes ; it is very transparent, and of 
a syrupy consistence, and is employed in making delicate varnishes, and 
to a limited extent in medicine. The wood of the tree is of but little 
value. The nearly related A. Fraseri, Pursh. — the Double Balsam Fir — 
is found in Pennsylvania, and southward upon the mountains ; it differs 
from the foregoing', in its smaller fruit, 1-2 inches long — which has ob- 
long w^edge-shaped bracts, with projecting and reflexed points ; it also 
yields balsam. ^ 

* * Cones terminal, hanging: scales not falling from the axis. 
f Leaves flat, 2-ranked, whitened beneath. 

2. A, Canaden'sis, Mx. Young branches slender^ drooping ; cones 
elliptic-ovoid, small. 

Canadian Abies. Hemlock Spruce. Hemlock. 

Siiym 40 -GO or 70 feet high, and 1-2 or 3 feet in diameter, but tapering rapidly near 
ih'j top. with long horizontal or often rather depending branches, which are slender and 
riacci.l while young. Leaves half an inch to three quarters in length, shining green above, 
blui^^h-glaucous beneath. Slaminate flowers in small roundish-ovoid pedunculate aments, 
wliich are racemoscly arranged around, and near the ends of the slender branches. 
,?troliles terminal, somewhat pendulous, about an inch long, bluish-glaucous when young 
finally pale brown or ferruginous ; scales obovate, concave', with the apex rounded, thiD 
and entire. 

Mountains and rocky banks, along streams : tlironghout the United States. Fl. Slay 
f/. August -September. 

15 



338 



"WEEDS AND USEFUL PLANTl^. 



Obs. This tree is so g-enerally diffiTsed throughout Northern America 
that it has been adopted, as emblematic, in Vignettes on maps, and othei 
devices, having reference to the country. It does not, however, afford a 
very vahiable timber, — though frequently sawed into scantling, and oth- 
er lumber. The bark is much used, in the Northern States, in the pro- 
cess of tanning ; and Marshall informs us, that the Aborigines used 
it to dye their splints, for baskets, of a red color. The tree bears prun- 
ing well, and makes a very excellent hedge or screen for the protection 
of delicate plants, in those localities where strong winds prevail. 

ff Leaves A-angled, equally distributed around the branch. 

3. A. Excel'sa, DC. Branchlets pendulous; cones cylindrical, very 
long ; scales rhomboid, somewhat wavy on the edge and slightly lacerate 
at the tapering apex 

Ta-LL or Lofty Abies. Norway Spruce or Fir. 

Trunk 60-80 feet or more high. Leaves about an inch long, scattered but inclined to be 
2-rauked. Ccnes 5-9 inches long, nearly cylindrical, light brown ; seed with one edge of 
the wing a little thicker, like a maple key. 

Cultivated. Native of northern Europe. 

Ohs. This stately solemn-looking tree, with its numerouc: dark green 
waving branchlets is now much planted for ornament, and is said to 
flourish better than most of our native species. The Burgundy Pitch of 
the shops is believed to be furnished by this species. 

4. A. ni'gra, Po?V. Leaves short, rigid, dark green ; cones ovate or 
ovate-oblong ; scales with a thin wavy eroded edge. 

Black Abies. Black Spruce. Double Spruce. 

Trunlc 30 - 60 feet or more high, with a handsome conical top. Leaves H - % of an inch 
long. Cones 1-2 inches long. 
Nev,- England and northward. 

Obs. Cultivated as an ornamental shade tree. The young shoots are 
used to give the flavor to Spruce Beer ; a thick decoction obtained by 
boiling the branches in water, is sold for the same purpose under the 
names of " Essence of Spruce." The White Spruce (A. alba, Mx.), 
also known as Single Spruce, is sometimes cultivated ; it has longer 
cones with the scales entire and firm on the edge, and a lighter colored 
foliage. It is by some considered a variety of Black Spruce. Both 
kinds afford a valuable timber, much employed in ship building, especial- 
ly for the lighter spars, when toughness, lightness and elasticity are 
required ; it is also used in the construction of houses. 

3. LA'RIX, Tournef. Larch. 

[The ancient name.] 

Aments lateral, scattered and bud-like. Staminate Fl, nearly as in 
Piuus. Conrs erect, ovoid ; scales persistent. Seeds with a persistent 



PIKE F.\M1LY. 



wing. Leaves deciduous and soft or evergreen and rigid, ihe primary 
ones scattered, the secondary many in fascicles. Fertile aments crimson 
or red in flower. 

Leaves rigid and evergreen. 

1. L. Ce'drus, Miller. Leaves rather few in the fascicles, needle-form, 
pointed ; strobiles oval, obtuse, rather large. 

Cedar Laeix. Cedar of Lebanon. * 

stem 30-59 or more feet high. Leaves % an inch to an inch in length. Cones, 3-4 
inches long ; scales broad, truncate, closely appressed. 
Cultivated. Native of Syria. 

Obs. This noble tree — so well known for the references to it in the 
sacred volume — has been recently introduced, and bids fair to become 
common in cultivation. The Deodar Cedar — a graceful evergreen, 
with drooping branches, less rigid and rather longer bluish-green 
glaucous leaves — haf5 also been introduced : and apparently belongs to 
this section. 

Leaves soft and deciduous. 

2. L. America'na, Mx. Leaves thread-like ; cones ovoid, of few 
rounded scales which are slightly inflexed on the margin. 

American Laeix. American or Black Larch. Hackmatack. Tama- 
rack. 

A slender i>-ee, 20 - 50 feet high, with numerous nearly horizontal, irregular branches. 
leaves about an inch long, of a light bluish-green. Cones about half an inch long. 
Cana^la to Virginia. Fl. May. 

3. L. Europjs'a, DC. Leaves flattish ; cones oblong with the scales 
slightly reflexed on the margin. 

European Laeix. Larch. White Larch. 

stem 60 - 80 or more feet high. Leaves an inch or more in length. Cones about ap. inch 
long, purple while j'oung, finally reddish-brown. 
Cultivated. Native of Europe. Fl. ilay. 

Obs. The European and American Larches much resemble each other, 
but the former is a handsomer tree with somewhat longer leaves and 
larger cones. The timber of both kinds is highly valuable, being 
strong, heavy and durable. It is much employed in ship building. 
The European species is of the most rapid growth and much attention 
is paid in Europe to its cultivation, and it might be advantageously 
planted on many unproductive lands in our country. 

4. THU'JA, Tournef. Arbor-Yit^. 

pho ancient Greek name of some resinous tree.] 

Aments terminal, ovoid, small monoicious, the two kinds on different 
branches Stamens with a scale-Jike connective or filament, bearing 



340 



"WEEDS AND USEFUL PLANTS. 



4 anther-cells. Fertile amexts with the scales imbricated^ fixed hy the 
base, each bearing 2 erect cvu!es, dry and spreading at inafurity. Co- 
tiji.edons 2. Leaves evergreen, very short, appressed and imbricated on 
the flattened branches. 

L T. OOSidenta'lis, L. Branches spreading ; leaves clcr,e)y appressed, 
rounded on the baclv ; cones ovoid-oblong, scales obtuse, pointless. 

Western Thuja. American Arbor- Yitae. 

Stem 20-50 feet high, with a conical top ; young branches 2-edg3d. diverging horizontally. 
Canes half an inch long, in racemose clusters on the recurved, brauchlets ; scales 1-seeded ; 
seed broadly winged. 

New England and northwest. 

Obs. This is a native of the cooler parts of the country and is fre- 
quently cultivat.^d as an ornamental evergreen. In the North it is 
regarded as a valuable tree for its timber, which is very durable, though 
difficult to procure of any great length. 

2. T. oriexta'lis, L. Branches erect ; leaves slightly F.ilrate in the 
middle ; cones roundish-ovoid or obovoid, erect ; scales acute with con- 
spicuous recurved or spreading points. 

Eastern Thuja. Chinese Arbor-Yitaj. 

stem 10-20 feet high, usnally of a shrub-like habit, with numerous erecf b-anches from 
near the base — especial!}' when young ; Irandies divergiug vertically or fan-like, wilh the 
edges up and down. Cones sub-solitary, about half an inch long, deep green aid glaucous. 

Cultivated. Native of China and Japan. 

Obs. This is a much smaller tree than the preceding, it? fdiage and 
cones of much deeper green. It is often used for an ornamentid hedge ; 
and it is decidedly better for show than for service. 

5. CUPRES'SUS, Tournef. Cypress. 

[The classical name.] 

Flcu'crs monoecious on diflerent branches, in terminal small /^menfs. 
Sterile aments of shield-shaped scales bearing 2 -4 anther-cells under 
the lower margin. Fertile amexts globular, of shield-shaped smies in 
4 ranks, bearing several erect bottle-shaped ovules. Cones globular, 
firmly closed, but opening at maturity ; the scales thick and vroody, 
pointed in the middle ; the few or several narrowly-winged sec\ls at- 
tached to their base or stalk. Cotyledons 2 - 3. Strong-scented ever- 
green trees, with very small and scale-like closely appressed imbrr"''.ated 
leaves and exceedingly durable wood. 

1, C. thyoi'cles, L. Leaves minute, ovate, with a small gland oi 
back, closely imbricated in 4 rows on the 2-edged branchlets. 

Thuja-liks Cupressus. Y'hite Cedar. 



PINE FAMILY. 



341 



stem to -80 fett high, and 1-2 foot in diameter, sparingly branche 1. Leaves evergreen, 
very small and crowded, appressid to the branches. ^ZraliZds onj third to half an inch 
in diameter. 

Swamps and pine forests : New Englanu to Georgia. Fl. April -May. Fr. September 




06s. This valuable tree is restricted to swamps, — where the straight 
stems are exceedingly numerous cftid crowded — forming almost impen- 
etrable dark groves, or clumps, of several acres. The wood is light, 
soft, and very durable. Shingles were formerly made, to a considerable 
extent, from the larger trees : but these are now chiefly wrought into 
domestics wares, by the Cedar cooper. The smaller trees are used for 
fence rails, — for which purpose they are higlily valued. There is perhaps 
no other wood land that will yield so much valuable timber per acre, 
— and no description of territory, in some localities, that will command 
half the price that can be obtained ibr good Cedar swamp. 

6. TAXO'DIUM, Richard. Bald Cypress. 

[Taxus, the yew, and eidos, form ; the foliage having the habit of that plant.] 

Flcwsrs monoecious, on the same branches. Stamixate aments nume- 
rous, arranged in a terminal pyramidal spike or raceme. Stamens few, 
inserted towards the apex of the axis, which is naked at base ; filaments 
short, thick, produced into a scale-like excentrically peltate connective 
bearing 2-5 anther-cells. Fertile aments roundish-obovoid, sessile in 
pairs at the base of the staminate spike ; scales numerous, inserted on 
the axis, imbricated, acute, recurved-spreading at apex. Ovules 2 at the 
base of each scale, sessile, erect, perforate at summit. Cone subglobose, 
formed of angular subpeltate woody scales. Seeds angular ; embryo in 
the axis of scanty albumen; cotyledons 6-9. 

1. T. dis'tichlim, Rich. Leaves flat, pinuately arranged on short slen- 
der deciduous branches which resemble common petioles. 

Distichous Taxodiuji. Cypress. Bald Cypress. 



Fig. 239. A scale from a staminate ament of Cypress (Cupressus), with the anthers &I 
its base. 210. A scale from a pistillate ament, with numerous ovules at its base. 241. 
A cone. 



342 



Stevi SO -100 feet high, fastigiately hranched at summit ; the trunk 2- 4 feet, or more, 
in diameter, often abruptly and much enlarged at base ; the creeping or spreading rocis 
protruding a number of large conical hollow 'km'bs above the surface of tlie ground 
Leaves one-third to half an inch long, sublinear. acute, pinnately or distichouslr arranged 
on alternate slender herbaceous branches (which rather resemble commcn ijkxolei) 1-2 
or 3 inches in length ; a number of leaves are also sohtarv, and scattered on the woody 
branches. 

Swamps, along large streams : Delaware to Louisiana. Fl. Feb. -April. Fr. Sept. - 
October. 

Ohs. The wood of tliis noble and remarkable tree is soft, fine grained 
and exceedingly durable. For many years it supplied the market with 
those valuable roofing materials called Cedar shingles " ; but since 
these have become rather scarce and dear, they have been extensively 
superseded by shingles made of the Y\liite Pine (Pinns Strobns, La, 
which make a reasonably good substitute at a much less price. 

7. JUXIP'ERUS, L. Jl-xiper. 

[The classical name.] 

Fkwets dicecions, — or rarely m.onoecious on distinct branches. Stami- 
NATE AMEXTS axillary or subterminal, ovoid, very small. Anther-alls 
3 - 6, attached to the lower edge of the shield-shaped scale. Fertile 
AMEXTS axillary, ovoid, bractea'te at base ; scales fleshy ; in fruit form- 
ing a sort of berry, scaly-bracted at base, 1 - 3-ovuled. Seeds 1 - 3, 
angular, bony. Cotyledons 2. Shrubs or trees with awl-sliaped or scale- 
like evergreen rigid leaves, often of two kinds. 

1. J. commu'llis, L. Leaves in threes, lincar-awl-shaped, spreading, 
prickly-pointed, concave and glaucous above. 

Com:jox Juxiperus. Juniper. , 

stem 6-10 feet high, with numerous oroct branches or prostrate and spreading. Z-enves 
K - >4 of" an inch long, sharp-pointed, bright green beneath. Slaminats aments 2-3 lines 
in length, russet-colored. Fruit a dark purple, about the size of a pea. 

Dry rocky hills : Xew Jersey and northward. 

Obs. This shrub is common both to Europe and this country ; there 
are several varieties, the most common with ns is the prostrate form. 
The long branches extend in every direction, close to the surface of the 
earth, forming large beds 10 -15 feet in diameter and not more than 
two feet high. In some parts of Xew England where it abounds, it is 
a troublesome plant, as it is very difficult to extirpate it ; it is commonly 
destroyed by burning. The berries are used to flavor Gin, or Geneva, 
and the oil from them is sometimes used m medicine. ^ 

2. J. Virg'inia'lia, L. Leaves in four rows, — on young plants and 
rapidly growing shoots, awl-shaped and somewhat spreading in pairs 
and threes— on the older ones very sn:iall and scale-like, triangular-ovate. 



VlKGIXIAX JUXIPEIIUS. 



Red Cedar. 



PINTE FA3IILT. 



343 



Shrubby, or a nno.Tl tree, 20 - 50 feet high : Mrk of the trunk separating in loose scales or 
ribbons, that uf the smaii branches purphsh and smooth. Ben-ies small, parplish, with a 
glaucous bloom. 

Common on dry hills. 

Obs. This tree, which is common in all parts of the country, is one 
of the most widely extended in geographical range, it being found also 
in Europe and Asia ; in high northern latitudes it becomes a prostrate 
shrub. The wood is exceedingly durable, very light and close-grained ; 
the heart wood is red, and is used in making lead pencils ; it is also 
used for the manufacture of pails and tabs, and is employed in ship and 
boat building. * 

8. TAX'TJS, Tournef. Yew. 

[Probably from the Greek, Taxon, a bow ; the wood being used for bows.] 

Flowers mostly dioecious, axillary, from scaly buds. Staminate aments 
globular, small, composed of naked stamens', anther-cells 3-6, clustered 
under a shield-shaped and somewhat lobed connective. Fertile flow- 
ers solitary, scaly-bracted at base, consisting merely of a solitary naked 
ovule seated in a cup-shaped disk which finally becomes pulpy and herry- 
like, — sometimes nearly enclosing the seed. Cotyledons 2. Leaves ever- 
green, linear, rigid, mostly 2-ranked ; pulp of the disk orange red. 

1. T. bacca'ta, L. a low tree, finally with a large trunk ; leaves 
acute, nearly flat, deep green, two-ranked or sometimes crowded round 
the branches. 

Berried Taxus. Common Tew. 

stem (in this country) but a few feet high ; lran:hes numerous and spreading. Leaves 

inch long, mo.stly two-ranked. 
Cultivated : Native of Europe. Fl. April. Ft: Oct. 

Obs. Frequently cultivated in rural cemeteries and church-yards. A 
variety called the Irish Yew has compact branches and densely crowded 
leaves. We have an indigenous Yew which was formerly considered 
as a distinct species, but is now regarded as a variety of this, viz. : var. 
Canaden'sis, Gray. A low diffusely branching shrub; leaves two- 
ranked. 

American Yew. Ground Hemlock. 

/Sfejn 2-4 feet high, with straggling branches. Leaves >^-3^of an inch long, entire, 
dark green on both sides, narrowed at base into a very short petiole. 
C/ommou northward and southward on the mountains. 

9. SAUSBU'EIA, Smith. Gixgko. 

[Dedicated to AnHicny Salisbury ; an English Eotanist.] 

SiAiiiXATE AMEXT3 axillary, filiform, pedunculate; anther-cells pendu- 
lous from the lacerated scale-like connective. Fertile flcwers termi- 
nal solitary on simple Dr fasciculatelv branching peduncles ; ovule naked. 



WEEDS AND USEFUL PLANTS. 



seated in a cnp-shoped disk m the thickened coDcave apex of the pedun- 
cle, — the disk finally becoming fleshy, embracing the base of the nut- 
like seed. Cofz//ec/ons 2, linear, elongated. Trees; /eGT;es plicately invo- 
lute in the bud, deciduous, alternate or somewhat fasciculate, on long 
petioles, fan-shaped and striate nerved, more resembling phyllodia than 
true leaves. 

1. S. adiantifo'lia, Smith. Leaves 
broadly wedge-shaped and trun- 
cate, or inversely deltoid, often 
bifidly incised at the apex, coria- 
ceous and striate with diverging 
nerves. 

Adiaxtum-leaved Salisbueia. 
Giugko, or Jinkgo. 

stem 40-80 feet high, with a light grey- 
bark, and branching, with something the 
habit of an Aspen. Leaves 2-3 inches 
long and 3-4 inches wide at apex ; petioles 
about 3 inches in length. 
Cultivated : a native of Japan. 

Obs. A remarkable tree, and 
very unlike the rest of the family 
in its general appearance. For a 
long time there was but one speci- 
men in the country, but it is now 
becoming frequent in cultivation. 

Class II. ENDOGENOUS PLANTS. 

Stem not distinguishable into hark, wcod, and pith ; the woody fibre 
snd vessels collected into bundles and irregularly distributed through 
the cellular tissue ; perennial stems without annual layers. Leaves 
mostly parallel-veined and sheathing at base, almost always alternate or 
scattered, and not toothed. Parts of the Jlower usually in threes. Em- 
bryo with a single cotyledon. 

Order LXXIL AEA'CE^. (Aru-M Family.) 

Peremiial herbs with an acrid or pungent juice, simple or compound leaves, with j^etvJcs 
Bheathing at base, and monoecious or perfect flowers crowded on a spadix, \^■hi^h is 
usually surrounded bj^ a S2?ai7ie. Floral envelopes none or of 4-6 sepals. Fridt usually 
a berry ; seeds with fleshy albumen, or sometimes a large flesh}' embryo, without albuMerk. 

1. Am^MllA, Martins. Lxdiax Tcrxip. 

[A play upon Arum, the ancient name.] 
Flowers monoecious, with the pistillate below on the same spadix, — oi 




Fig. 242. A branch of the Gingko or Jiukgo Tree (Sahsburia adiantifolia'). 



AHUM FAMILY. 



dicecicns by abortion. Spadix naked and elongated above. Floral m- 
velopes none. Stamixate Fl. of whorls of 4 or more stamens ; filaments 
very short ; anthers 2-4 celled. Pistillate Fl. consisting of a 1-celied 
ovary with a depressed sf/gmcr, containing 5-6 straight ovules, erect 
from the base of the cell. Fruit 1 - few-seeded ; seeds subglobose, albu- 
minous. Perennial herbs with a tuberous rhizoma ; leaves dissected; 
petioles elongated ; spadix on a scape ; berries orange-red. 

1. A, triphyrinm, Torr. Leaves mostly in pairs, ternately divided, — 
the segments elliptic-ovate or lanceolate, acuminate, entire, sessile ; 
spadix clavate, obtuse, shorter than the spathe. 

Three-leaved Aeis^ma. Indian Turnip. 

Root perennial, consisting of numerous fibres proceeding from the base of an orbicular 
depressed rugose cormus, or subterranean stem. Aerial stem none. Leaves mostly 2 
(sometimes solitary) , ternate ; the leaflets or segments 2 or 3 - 6 or 8 inches long, smooth, 
green or often purplish, thin and membranaceous, or almost scarious, when dried ; com- 
mon petioles 9-18 inches long, inserted on the cormus, and embracing the central scape 
at base. *S'cape 6 - 15 inches high, situate between the leaves, the base inclosed by the 
sheathing petioles. Spaihe3-bmch.es long, — the lower half convolute, the upper'half 
(or hmb) a Lttle dilated, flat, ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, and cucullately incurved, often 
variegated with dark-purple and yellowish stripes and spots. Spadix mostly unisexual, 
with the summit clavate, naked and smooth, much shorter than the spathe, but a little ex- 
serted from the convolute portion. Berries numerous, in a dense oblong cluster around 
the base of the spadix, orange-red or scarlet when mature. 

Rich shaded grounds : throughout the United States. J'Z. May. io\ August -Septem- 
ber. 

Obs. The turnip-like subterranean stem (designated by the name of 
Cormus), is highly acrid in its fresh or green state ; but that quality is 
dissipated, in a great measure, by boiling or drying. The recent tuber, 
grated and boiled in milk, is a popular medicine in coughs and pulmonary 
consumption. It is said to yield a starch equal in quality to that from 
the potato, and a substance called Portland Arrowroot, or Portland Sago, 
is prepared from it in some parts of England. A plant nearly allied to 
this, called " Tanyer" — (the Tallo, or Tarro, of the New Zealanders), is 
said to be cultivated, occasionally, in the gardens of the Southern States, 
for the sake of the cormus, or tuberous rhizoma, — which is used at the 
table as a substitute for the potato or yam. 

2. SYMPLOCAR PUS, Salish. Skunk Cabbage. 

[Greek, Syniploke, connexion, and Karpos, fruit ; descriptive of the plant.] 

Flowers with floral envelopes, perfect. Spathe conch-shaped, acuminate. 
Spadix pedunculate, oval, or subglobose, densely covered with flowers. 
Sepals 4, persistent, becoming fleshy or baccate. Stamens 4, opposite 
the sepals ; filaments linear, flattened, included ; anthers 2-celled. Ovary 
1-celled ; ovule single ; style 4-sided, tapering to a minute terminal 
stigma. Berries coalescing, 1-celled, 1-seeded. Seed destitute of al- 
bumen. 

1. S. foe'tidus, Salisb. Stemless ; leaves cordate-oval, enlarging ; spadix 
oval. 

15-^- 



348 



WEEDS AXD USEFUL PLAXTS. 



Fetid Symplocarpus. Swamp Cabbage. Skunk Cabbage. 

iEooi perennial, with fleshy fibres from a thick truncate rMzcvia. Aerial stem none; 
Z^ai-es appearing after the spadix has flowered, at first orbicular-cordate, at length cor- 
date-oval, becoming very largo (often near 2 feet long, and a foot or more in width), en- 
tire, smooth ; stijnilcs expanding, ovate-oblong, acuminate, or often spatulate. - Spatht 
Eubsessile, spotted with purplish-brown, green, and yellow. Spadix about an inch in diam- 
eter, on a short thick peduncle. Flmcers compact, appearing tessellated. Se2Mls dark- 
brown, fleshy, cuneate, truncate, the apex and margins inflected. Anthers slightly ex- 
serted. ^Sij/Ze projecting a little above the sepals. Fruit fleshy, coalesced with the "base 
of the persistent sepals, and imbedded in the surface of the receptacle. Seeds globose, 
about the size of a common garden pea. 

Wet, low grounds : Canada to Virginia. Fl. Feb. - March. Fr. Sept. 

Obs. This plant — so readily known by its skunk-like odor, when 
wounded — is quite common in wet meadows, and other swampy low 
grounds in the middle and northern States. It is a worthless weed, — 
and its bunches of large leaves are sufficiently unsightly to command the 
attention of the neat farmer. 

3. AC'OEUS, X. Sweet Flag. 

[Gr. a, privative, and Jcore, the pupil of the eye ; a supposed remedy for sore eyes.] 

Flmms perfect, without a proper spathe, crowded on a sessile sub-cylin- 
dric spadix which emerges from the side of a scape which closely re- 
sembles the leaves. Sepals 6, concave. Stamens 6, inserted on the base 
of the sepals ; anthers reniform 1-celled, transversely dehiscent. Ovary 
trigonous, 3-celled ; ovules numerous, pendulous ; stigma sessile, minute. 
Fruit somewhat baccate, indehiscent. Seeds few, inverted, albuminous, 
nestling in a gelatinous matter. 

1, A. Garamus, L. Scape leaf-like, extending much above the lateral 
spadix. 

Eeed Acorus. Calamus. Sweet Flag. 

Fr. Acore odorant. Germ. Der Kalamus. Span. Acoro Calamo. 

Root perennial, in coarse verticillate fibres from a horizontal creeping pungently aro- 
matic rhizoma. Aerial stem none. Leaves radical, eusiform-liuear, 2-3 feet long, and 
half an inch to near an inch wide, smooth. Scape as long as the leaves and much re- 
BemblLng them, somewhat triangular below the spadix. Spadix 2-3 inches long, terete, 
tapering to an obtuse point. Sepals greenish, cuneate-oblong, keeled, with scarious 
margins. 

Swampy meadows, about springs, &c. Fl. May- June. Fr. Sept. 

Obs. A native of Europe and Asia as well as some parts of this 
country. The whole plant is warmly aromatic — especially the creeping 
rhizoma ; and that subterraneous portion is deservedly popular for its 
mediciual virtues. I have seen some wet meadows, however, in which 
the plant had got possession to such an extent as to become something 
of a nuisance, — and a difficult one to get rid of. It would be well, 
therefore, in introducing it, t plant it only m circumscribed swamps. 



CAT-TAIL FAMILY. 



847 



Order LXXm. TTPHA'CE^. (Cat-tail Family.) 

Marsh Jierls, with linear or narrow-ensiform leaves, sheathing at base, and monoscioug 
■floicers, destitute of proper floral envelopes in a dense cylindric spadix-like spiJceor glome- 
rate in heads. Fruit nut-like when ripe, 1-seeded. Seed suspended ; embryo straight, in 
copious oBmnun. 

1. TYTHA, Tournef. Cat-tail. 

[Greek, txfphos, a bog or marsh ; from its place of growth.] 

Flcu-eis in a long dense terminal cylindric internipted spike y^ith an 
intervening caducous spathe, — the upper portion consisting of stamens 
only, intermixed vrith simple hairs, — the hwer portion consisting of 
ovaries surrounded by numerous clavate bristles ; style simple. Nutlets 
minute, stalked. Smooth perennials with creeping rhizomas, and simple 
jointless stems and long narrow, thickish, erect leaves which nearly equal 
the cuhn. 

1. T. latifo'lia, L. Leaves somewhat ensiform-linear, fiat ; stamiaate 
and pistillate spikes mostly contiguous. 

Broad-leaved Typha. Cat-tail. Coopers' Eeed. Eeed-mace. 
Fr. Masse d'eau. Germ. Die Rohrkolbe. Span. Espadana. 

Culm 4-5 feet high, simple, terete, smooth, solid with pith, leafy at base. Leaves about 
as long as the culmTand >< - "i of an inch wide, tapering at apex but obtuse, sheathing 
the cuhn at base. Stami»ate spike, or spadix, 6-8 inches long, and ngar an inch in diam- 
eter, yellowish-brown, with a sheathing membranaceous caducous spalhe as long as the 
spike. Pistillate spike immediately below (and about as thick as) the staminate one, 
4-6 inches long, greenish-brown, sometimes in contact or continuous with the staminate 
spike, sometimes with a naked space of near half an inch between them. 

Pools and swampy springs : throughout the United States. Fl. June -July. Fr. Sep- 
tember. 

Ohs. The leaves of this plant are (or formerly were) much used, by the 
coopers, to secure the joints of casks, &c., from leaking. Poor people 
sometimes collect the fruit with its hairy involucels, from the mature 
spikes, for the purpose of filling beds ; but it becomes exceedingly dusty 
and unpleasant, and is even unhealthy, — in every respect a miserable 
substitute for clean Oats chaff, or cut straw. A narrow-leaved variety, 
by some considered a species (T, anglTStifolia, L.), is found in similar 
situations ; it usually has the staminate and pistillate portions of the 
spike separated by an interval. 

Order LXXIY. AUSMA'CE^. (^ater-Plaxtaix Family.) 

Marsh he)-7>s with scape-hke stems and perfect or monoecious flmoers, not on a spadix, fur- 
nished with both calyx and corolla ; sqmls and jtetaU each 3, distinct. S'amens hj-pogy- 
Dous, 6 -many. Ovaries 3 -many, becoming as many 1 -2-seeded jjods or akeries.' Se^dt 
ascending or erect. Embryo without albumen. Leaves sheathing at base. 

1. SAGITTA'EIA, L. Arrow-head. 

[Latin, Sjgitta, an arrow ; from the prevailing form of the leaves.] 

Flowers monoecious (sometimes dioecious), mostly whorled in threes, tht 



348 



WEEDS AND USEFUL PLANTS. 



staminate ones above. Calyx green and persistent. Petals white, decid* 
uous, imbricated in the bud. Stamens numerous; anthers extrorse. 
Ovaries many, in depressed-globose heads, in fruit becoming flattened 
winged akenes. Smoothish perennials ; roots often tuberiferous ; leaves 
polymorphous, usually sagittate ; scape sheathed at the base by the bases 
of the long cellular petioles. 




i, S. varia'bilis, Engelmann. Scape simple or branc A ; leaves 
very various, mostly sagittate ; pedicels of the fertile florvi about half 
the length of the sterile ones ; filaments awl-shaped, it^'Aj twice the 



Fig, 243. Tlis Arrowhead (Sagittaria variabilis 



PIXE-APPLE FAMILY. 



349 



length of the anthers ; akene obovate, with a long and curved beak 1 or ^ 
its length. 

Variable Sagittaria. Arrovz-head. 

Root perennial producing oval f pshy tubers (or rMzomas) 1 - 2 or 3 iuches in diameter. 
leaves 3 or 4-8 or 10 inches long (including tlie lobes), and 1 or 2-6 inches wide, 
sagittate-lobed at base, — the Zo&es ovate-lanceolate, about as long as the lamina of the leaf ; 
pe^icZes 4-12 or 15 inches long. Scape 2-1?, inches high, smooth. Pedicels one quarter 
to half an inch long, with membranaceous hracis at base. PislUlate flowers with ovaries 
forming depressed globose heads, which, in fruit, are one-half to two-thirds of an inch in 
diameter. 

Ditches and swampy springs ; throughout the United States. J'J. July -August. Fr. 
September - October. 

Obs. This plant frequently occurs in ditches and swampy places, and 
is of a size to attract the notice of the observing farmer. Some half- 
dozen varieties, founded on the variation in size and shape of the leaves, 
are described. Kalm says that the Indians and Swedes called the plant 
" Katniss" ; and that the tubers were sometimes " as big as a man's fist" ; 
that when roasted, they tasted well, but were rather dry. (See Travels, 
vol. 2, pp. 96, 97.) Hogs are fond of the tubers, — and when these ani- 
mals have access to their place of growth, are apt to disfigure the 
ground very much by rooting. Draining is the remedy for this, and for 
most other aquatic weeds. 

The Alisma Plantago, L., or Water Plantain, (belonging to a genus 
which represents the Order,) is frequent in v/et places, — and at one time 
made some noise among gossiping dealers in marvellous specifics, as a 
certain remedy for Hydrophobia ; but it was soon forgotten, — and ia 
now scarcely noticeable, even as a weed. 

Order LXXY. BROMELIA'CE.^]. (Pine-apple Family.) 

Chiefly tropical Tierhs or suffruticose plants, often stemless with perennial rhizomas and 
mostly by rigid, dry and channelled leaves sheathing at base and scurfy or scaly on the 
surface. FZoiters perfect, spicate, racemose, or paniculate, bracteate. Sepals Z. Petals 
3. Stamens 6, or more. Omry free, or adnate to the calyx, 3-celled ; style trigonous, 
simple or sometimes separable into 3 ; stigmas 3. Fruit 3-celled, baccate and indehiscent, 
or more frequently capsular and septicidally (or sometimes loculicidally) 3-valved. Seeds 
mostly numerous ; testa coriaceous ; embryo small, straight or curved, in the base of mealy 
albumen. 

The plant of chief interest, in this Order, is that which affords the delicious Pine-apple ; 
the fruit of which is formsd by the consolidation or blending of the imperfect flowers, 
bracts, and receptacle into one fleshy succulent mass, which is usually crowned with a 
terminal tuft of leaves. 

1. TILLAND'SIA, L. Long Moss. 

[Named in honor of Elias Tillands, a Swedish Botanist.] 

Calyx free from the ovary, unequally 3-parted, persistent, — the segments 
somewhat convolute. Corolla 3-cleft, tubular below, spreading above. 
Stamens 6, hypogynous, — the alternate ones mostly adhering to the 
petals : anthers incumbent. Ovary 3-celled ; style filiform or dilated at 
apex, straight or twisted. Capsule cartilaginous, cylindrical or ovoid. 



350 



WEEP/S AXD USEFUL PLAXTS. 



3-celled, 3-valved. Seeds several, linear-clavate, stipitate, — tlis stipe 
vested with pappus-like hairs ; embryo straight. 

L T. usneoi'des, L. Stem filiform, flexuose, branching, pendulous ; 
leaves subulate-filiform ; peduncles 1-flowered, short. 

USXEA-LIKE TiLLANDSIA. Loug MoSS. 

Perennial^ parasitic, taking root in the fissures of tlie bark of trees. Stem 3-6 feet o^ 
more in lengtb, branclied, pendulous in long tangled bunches from the Lnlbs of old trees, 
very slender, terete, covered and somewhat roughened (as well as the leaves) with minute 
whitish membranaceous scales which are dotted In the centre, — the centre of the stem 
and leaves consisting of a black horny elastic thread. Leaves sub terete, slender, acute. 
Flowers yellowish-green, PursTi. (purple, Loudon^ Ency.), solitary, axillar}^, sessile, with 
3 - 4 small leaves (or bracts) at base. Calyz and corolla deeply parted, — the segments 
equal in length, lanceolate, membranaceous. Ovary oblong. Capsule nearly cylindrical, 
2 -3-celled. Seeds several in each cell, oblong, acute at each end, comose. 

Grows on the forest trees, in the low-land districts of the South. J^L June - Sept. Fr. 

Obs. This singular parasite extends as far north as the Dismal Swamp, 
in Virginia ; but I have not had the pleasure of seeing it in its native 
forests. Mr. Elliott (from whose sketch I have chiefly derived the 
above details) says, " black cattle eat this plant in winter with avidity, 
and sometimes trees are felled, during a series of severe frosts, to place 
the moss within their reach. The moss, when dried, is beaten until the 
bark falls off, and the cartilaginous hair-like flexible stem used for stuff- 
ing mattresses, chairs, &c." The uses, here mentioned, seem to entitle 
the plant to a place in the present work. 

Order LXXYI. SMILA'CEJE. (Smilax Family.) 

Herbs or climbing shrubby plants with ribbed and netted-veined leaves and regular dioe- 
cious or perfect powers. Periaui/i. 6 - 10 parted ; staj/ie^is as mauj^ as the perianth-lobes. 
Ovary free, 3-5-celled ; styles or sessile stigmas many and distinct. Fruit a few -many- 
seeded berry ; evibryo minute, in a hard albumen. 

1. SMI'LAX, Tournef. Greex-brier. 

[The ancient Greek name, meaning obscure.] 

Flowers dioecious, in axillary pedunculate simple umbels. Calyx some- 
what corolla-like, campanulate, deeply 6-parted, — or rather of 6 petaloid 
sepals in two series, the outer ones broader. Staminate Fl. Stamens 
6 ; anthers linear, adnate to the filaments. Pistillate Fl. Ovary 3- 
celled ; ovules solitary ; stigmas 3, subsessile. Berry 1 - 3-celled, 1-3- 
seeded. Shrubs or rarely perennial herbs, often evergreen and prickly, 
climbing by tendrils on the petioles ; flowers greenish yellow. 

1. S. rotimdifo'lia, L. Stem shrubby, prickly, more or less 4-angled 
or sub-terete ; leaves orbicular-ovate, acuminate, subcordate at base ; 
common peduncles scarcely longer than the petioles. 
Round-leaved Smilax. Green-brier. Rough Bind-weed. 

Plant glabrous, yellowish-green. Stem 20-30 (sometimes 50) feet long, slender, flexu- 
ose, som.ewhat branched, armed with straight rigid prickles, and chmbing by teudrili 



LILY FAillLT. 



351 



Lsairs 2-3 inclies long, and often as wide as long ; petioles one-third to three-fourths of an 
inch long, striate, margined at base, giving out a simple, filiform, but strong tendril on 
eath side, at the summit of the margin. Flowers greenish-yellow, in small globoso 
a.xillary umbels. Berries dark blue, or bluish-blacic with a glaucous bloom, when 
mature. 

Moist thickets and woodlands, — climbing bushes and trees : Canada to Carolina. Fl. 
June. Ih-. October. 

Ohs. This rugged shrubby vine is often abundant in moist low 
grounds, — forming ahiiost impenetrable thickets ; and is a great annoy- 
ance to the woodman, when employed in clearing out such places. A 
form with the branches 4-augled ; a smaller plant and seldom climbing 
is yet more difficult to subdue. It is quite frequent in sterile old fields, 
on our slaty hills, — and always indicates a low state of agriculture. 
There are several other prickly species in the United States — especially 
in the South ; and some of them may be as annoying to the planter or 
farmer as these, — but I cannot speak of them from my own knowledge. 
We have an unarmed herbaceous species (S. herba'cea, L.) — frequent 
along fence-rows and borders of thickets — which is chiefly remarkable 
for the carrion-like fetor of its flowers. 



Order LXXYII. LILIA'CE^. (Lily Family.) 

Herbs with parallel-nerved, sessile or sheathing leaves and regular perfect flowers. Livi- 
Eions of the 2)erian;?i petal-like, similar, 6. Stamens 6; a«//iers introrse. Styles united; 
stigmas 3, sometimes united. Fruil a 3-valved loculicidal capsule, or sometimes a l«rry ; 
seeds few or many ; embryo in fleshy albvmen. 

A verj' large order, the different genera of which present a groat variety of appearances. 
Besides the few we have mentioned below many are well known in cultivation, and are 
among the most brilliant ornaments of the garden, as the Hyacinth, Lily, Crown Imperial, 
luhp, &c. The medicines Squill and Aloes are produced by plants of this order, as is the 
New Zealand Flax (Phormium tenax, Forst.), so valuable for the strength of its fibres. 
Fruit a berry. Herbs from root-stoclvs, no bulbs. Stem branch- 
ing. Leaves fine aad thread-shaped. 1. Asparagus. 
Fruit a 3-ceUed pod, splitting into 3 valves when ripe. Seels 
black. 

* Roots fascicled, not bulbous. 
Perianth united into a tube below ; fann^l-form. 2. Hemerocalus. 

** Scape sim.ple from a coated bulb. 
Flowers corjimbed, white ; style 3-sided. 3. Ordtthogaluii. 

Flowers racemed, blue or purple ; style thread-like. 4. Solla. 

Flowers in an umbel, from a scaly bract or involucre. 5. Aluum. 

Fruit a 3-celled many-seeded pod. Seeds pale. Perianth of 6 

petal-hke distinct divisions. 
Anthers fixed by their middle, swinging free ; stems from a scaly 

bulb, leafy to the top. 6. Liucm. 

1. ASPAR'AGUS, L. Asparagus. 

[The ancient Greek name.] 

Perianth of 6 nearly equal linear-oblong divisions, slightly connected at 
base, spreading at apex. Stamens 6, — the lower half of the filaments 
adnate to the base of the sepals ; anthers peltate. Style short ; stigmas 
3. Berry globose, 3-celled ; cells 2-seeded. Perennials Vvith much- 
branched stems from thick and matted root-stocks, very narrow leaves in 
clusters, and small, greenish-yellow jicwers. 



352 



WEEDS AjSTD 



USEFUL PLANTS. 



1. A. offiv-Ina'lis, L. Unarmed ; stem herbaceous, erect, panic alate!y 
branched ; leaves fasciculate, setaceous and flexible. 

Officixal Asparagus. Asparagus, or (corru]3tly) " Spairow Grass." 
Ft. Asperge. Germ. Der Spargel. Span. Esparrago. 

iEooi perennial, consisting of numerous coarse flesh} fasciculate fibres. Plant smooth, 
3-6 feet high, — the turimis, or young stems, at first simple, stout and fleshy, with leaves 
in the form of appressed scales — finally the stem is ramified ipto a large panicle. Leaves 
unequal, one-third of an inch to an inch or more in length, very narrow, linear, flat, ab- 
ruptly acute, in fascicles of 3-10 or 12 (often 6), with a minute ovate acuminate scarious 
stipule at the base of each fascicle. Peduncles in pairs (sometimes solitary), lateral (not 
axillary) at the base of the alternate branches, about half an inch long, slender, the 
upper half (above the thickened ring, or articulation) slightly clavate. Calyx pale green- 
ish-yellow. Bernes globose, slightly umbilicate, red when mature. 

Gardens : cultivated. Native of Europe. J'i. May -July. JV. September. 

Ohs. Almost every garden has a bed of Asparagus roots, for the pake 
of the young Turions — which afford a favorite vegetable dish in early 
spring. The plant has in some cases escaped from gardens and become 
naturalized, especially near the coast. 

2. HEMEROCAL'LIS, X. Day Lily. 

[Greek, Hemera, a day, and Kallos. beauty ; the flower lasting but a day.] 

Perianth funnel form, — the short tube enclosing the ovary, — the 6-parted 
border spreading and lily-Iike, withering at the close of the day. Stamens 
G, inserted at the throat ; fdaments and style long and thread-like, de- 
clined and ascending. Capsule 3-angled, rather fleshy, 3-valved ; seeds 
several, subglobose, black. Smooth, showy perennials with fleshy-fibrous 
roots and long linear-keeled leaves, 2-ranked at the base of the tall scapes 
which bear at the summit several large showy br acted j^o-w-'ers. 
1. H. fuVva, L. Perianth copper-colored or orange-tawny, the inner 
lobes obtuse and wavy on the margin. 
Tawny Hemerocallis. Day Lily. ^ 

ieaues about 2 feet long and an inch wide, acute. Scape 3-4 feet high, coryrabosely 
branched at summit, the branches bracteate at base. Feriardh about 4 inches long, — 
the tube contracted, about an inch in length. 

Gardens and about houses. Native of China. July. 

Obs. This has strayed from gardens, where it is often cultivated and 
is naturalized in many places. It is very difficult to eradicate when 
once established. The H. flava, L., a yellow-flowered species of smalle? 
growth, is often seen in gardens. 

3. ORXITHOG'ALUM, Tournef. Star of Bethlehem. 

[Greek, Ornis, ornithos, a bird, and gala, milk ; an ancient whimsical name.] 

Perianth white, (or partly colored,) corolla-like, of 6 sepals slightly con- 
nected at base, spreading above the middle, 3 - 1 -nerved. Stamens 6, the 
filaments dilated at base, narrowed and subulate at apex. Style 3-sided • 



LILY FAMILY. 



o53 



stigma 3-angled. Capsule membranaceous, roundish, obtusely trigonous, 
3-celled. Sssds few in a cell, subgiobosa or angular ; testa black, rugose. 
Scape and linear-channelled leaves from a coated bulb. Flowers corym- 
bose, or racemose, bracted. 

1. 0. umbella turn, L. Eacemes corymbose ; peduncles longer than the 
bracts ; perianth lobes white within, green outside, with white margins. 

Umbellate Orxithogalum. Ten o'clock. Star of Bethlehem. 

Fr. Dame d'onze heures. Germ. Die Yogelmilch. Span. Ornitogalo. 

Bulbs 'biennial? small, white. Leaves radical, numerous, 6-12 inches long, very 
smooth, green with a whitish longitudinal line. Scapes Q-'d inches high, terete, smooth, 
corymbosely branched at summit, — the branches or peduncles alternate, 1-2 inches long, 
each with a membranaceous huear-lanceolate acuminate hraxt at base. Sepals white 
within, externally green with a white margin. Ocary somewhat trigonous-turbinate, often 
abortive. 

Pastures and cultivated fields : introduced. Native of the old world. Fl. May - June. 
Fr. July. 

Obs. This foreigner has escaped from the gardens, in many places, — 
and multiplies its bulbs so rapidly as to become a great nuisance, if 
neglected. The bulbs are exceedingly tenacious of life ; and when once 
completely in possession of the soil, it is an almost hopeless task to at- 
tempt to extirpate them. The leaves generally die, however, in the early 
part of summer, — and, in good land, are replaced by the valuable 
grasses ; so that this obnoxious little intruder is not quite so serious a 
pest as some others ; — such, for example, as the Canada Thistle, or Ox- 
eye Daisy. 

4. SCIL'LA, L. Squill. 

[The ancient name.] 

Perianth of 6 colored (blue or purple) spreading divisions, mostly decidu- 
ous, with 6 awl-shaped filaments at their base. Style thread-like. Pod 
3-angled, 3-valved, with several black, roundish seeds in each cell. — • 
Scape and linear-leaves from a coated bulb ; the usually bracted flowers 
in a simple raceme . 

1, S. Fra'seri, Gray. Leaves long, linear, keeled ; bracts solitary, lun- 
ger than the pedicels ; stigma minutely 3-cleft. 

Feaser's Scilla. Eastern Quamash. Wild Hyacinth. 

BuTb onion-likc. Scape about a foot high, bearing a long raceme of pale blue flmoers. 
Sepals widely spreading, half an inch long, 3-nerved. 
Prairies and banks of rivers : Ohio and westward. 

■ Obs. This is the celebrated Quamash, or Camass, which serves as 
food for some of the Indian tribes of the far west ; the bulb is roasted, 
e,nd is said to be sweet-tasted and agreeable. 



354 



WEEDS AXD USEFUL PLANTS. 




2U 



5. AL'LIUM, L. Garlic. Oxiox. 

[The ancient Latin name of Garlic] 

Perianth of 6 entirely colored sepals, distinct or united at the base, 1- 
nerved, becoming dry, more or less persistent. FilamenU subulate-fili- 
form, more or less dilated below, — the inner or alternate ones often mem- 
branaceously dilated, trifid or Tritli a slender cusp or tooth at summit, on 
each side. Style filiform ; stigma simple or sometimes trifid. Capsule 
membranaceous, trigonous, or somevrhat 3-lobed. Seeds few, roundish 
and angular ; testa black, rugose or minutely granular-dotted. Herbs 



Fig. 244. Tlie Ten O'clock, or Star o' B<)thleliem (Ornithogalum umbeUatum), 



LILY FAMILY. 



355 



of a strong odor, with tiinicated (biermial ?) bulbs. Scapes naked, or 
with sheathing-leaves below, solid or fistiilar. Leaves mostly narrow, 
channelled, semi-cvlindric, or terete, often hollow, sometimes flat. Umbel 
terminal, embraced by a membranaceous 1 - 2-Yalved marcesceut spathc- 
like involucre. Flowers sometimes changed into bulblets. 

* Umbel often densely bulb bearing, with or without flowers. 
f Leaves flat. 

1. A. SATi'vuM, L. Scape terete, leafy to the middle; leaves lance- 
linear, somewhat channelled ; spathe 1-valved, with a long acumination, 
caducous. 

Cultivated Allium. Garden or English Garlic. 

Fr. LAil. Germ. Der Lauch. Knoblauch. Span. Ajo. 

Growing in bunches. Eadical bulbs compound, consisting of small bulbous offsets, 
called doves. Scape \-2 feet high, smooth — the lower half apparently leafy, by the e^.- 
tensiou of the sheaths. Leaves 9-15 inches long, distichously arranged. Heads or um- 
bels bearing numerous small ovoid-oblong bulbs, each bulb with a membranous cover 
ing. (7ci7(/z pale purple. 

Gardens : cultivated. Native of Europe. Fl. July. Fr. September. 

Obs. Cultivated as an article of medicine and used by some to season 
food, for which purpose it is extensively used in the Spanish American 
parts of our continent. 

f f Leaves terete and hollcw. 

2. A. vinea'le, L. Scape terete, slender, sparingly leafy to the mid- 
dle ; leaves terete, with a narrow channel on the upper side ; spathe ab- 
ruptly acumiaate. 

YiNE (or Yixeyard) Allium. Garlic. Field Garlic. Crow Garlic. 
Fr. Ail des Vignes. Germ. Acker-Lauch. Wein-bergs-Lauch. 

SuZft.s small. .Sccrjje 2-3 feet high, very slender, with a few leaves below the middle' 
Leaves 8-12 or 15 inches long. ?7Hi5eZ globose, about an inch in diameter (smaller and 
densely capitate when bearing bulbs — the bulbs often vegetating while in the heads) ; 
ped^icels of the flowers filiform, clavate. Calyx deep purple, tinged with green. 

Pastures and cultivated grounds : introduced. Native of Europe. Fl. June. Fr. Aug. 

Obs. Tradition says, this species was introduced by the first Welsh 
immigrants to Pennsylvania, for the purpose of supplying an early pas- 
ture. It is now completely naturalized, and was formerly so abundant 
in some districts, as to be quite a nuisance. It not only imparted a dis- 
gusting flavor to milk, butter, &c., but, by its abundance among the 
wheat, seriously injured the flour, — and rendered the manufacture of it 
difficult. Our best farmers, however, have now nearly subdued it, by the 
improvement of their land, and a judicious rotation of crops. A native 
species, the Meadow Garlic (A. Canaden'se, Kalm), is frequent in moist 
meadows ; it has flat leaves borne at the base of the scape. 

3. A. Ce'pa, L. Scape leafy at base ooly, fistular, and ventricose belo'r 



856 



'v^EEDS AND USEFUL PLANTS. 



the middle, much longer than the leaves; leaves subterete, fistular, 
somewhat ventricose ; umbel g-lobose, usually capsule- bearing ; spathe 
1- or finally 2-valved, v/ith a short acumination. 
Onion. Garden Onion. 

Fr. Oignon. Gei'm. Die Zwiebel. Span. Cebolla. 

jBmZ6 depressed or turnip-shaped, large (2-3 inches in horizontal diameter). Scape 2-3 
feet high, terete, often an inch or more in diameter in the most ventricose portion, smooth, 
glaucous. Leaves 6 inches to a foot or more in length. Urtibel 2-3 inches in diameter — tha 
•pedicels filiform. Spaihe greenish-white. Sepals lance-oblong, white with a green keel. 
Outer stamens about as long as the calyx,, spreading — ^the inner ones nearly twice as long, 
erect ; filaments white, the 3 inner ones m-uch dilated at base, obscurely toothed. 

Gardens and fi.elds : cultivated. Native country unknown. Fl. July. Fr. September. 

Obs. This species — universally known and cultivated, as a culinary 
vegetable — is by far the most valuable of the genus. The culture is car- 
ried to a great extent in some favorable localities, — as at Wethersfield, 
Connecticut. There is a variety with bulb-bearing umbels, or heads, 
sometimes to be seen in gardens. The expressed juice of the Onion is a 
popular reir.edy for the croup, in children. Its stimulating quality is 
thus playfully alluded to, by Shakspeare, in the Taming of the Shrew : 

"-And if the boy have not a woman's gift, 
To rain a shower of commanded tears. 
An Onion v*:ill do well for such a shift ; 
Which in a napkin being close conveyed, 
Shall in despite enforce a watery cj-e." 

Umhel bearing only Jlowers and^ ccipsules. 
f Leaves fiat. 

4. A. Por'rum, L. Scape rising from the centre of a simple bulb, terete, 
leafy to the middle ; leaves broad, somewhat channelled or folded, and 
keeled, acute ; umbel globose ; sepals with a rough keel ; stamens a lit- 
tle exserted. 

Leek Allium. Leek. Garden Leek. 

Fr. Porreau. Genn. Gemeiner Lauch. Span. Puerro. 

Bulh middle-sized. Scape 2-3 feet high, stout and solid. Leaves distichously arranged 
on the lower half of the scape, 6-12 inches long, and about an inch wide at base, with the 
margin sometimes ciliat?. ^paf/ie with a long acumination. ITmtieZ globose, dense, rather 
large (2 inches or more in diameter) ; pedicels of the flowers clavato. Calyx pale violet- 
purple. Filaments white. 

Gardens : cultivated. Native of Europe. Fl. July. Fr. September. 

Obs. This species— which is regarded as a sort of national cmbleiE 
by the Welsh, is thus noticed by the poet, Gay : 

" Leek to the Welsh, to Dutchmen butter 's dear, 
Of Irir.h swains potato is the cheer ; 
Oats /or their feasts the Scottish shepherds grind." 

Cultivated for use in soups. 

I f Leaves terete, hollow. 



LILY FAMILY. 



357 



5. A. Schcenopra'sum, L. Scape naked or few-leaved at base, about as 
long as the subulate-filiform leaves ; spathe 2-valved, about equal to 
tbe umbel. 

Eusn-LEEK Allium. Chives, or Gives. 

Fr. Ciboulette. Germ, Der Schuittlauch. Span. Cebollino. 

Growing in bunches. Bulbs small. Scape 6-9 inches high, smooth. Leaves erect., 
about as long as the scape. Unibel about an inch in diameter. Spathe. of 2 ovate mem- 
branaceous nerved purpLish valves. Calyx purple with a tinge of violet. 

Gardens : cultivated. Native of Europe. Fl. July. Fr. September. 

Ohs. Cultivated as a culinary herb ; and often used as a kind of me- 
dicinal food for young poultry. Two or three other species of thissgenus 
are cultivated in Europe ; namely, A. Scorodoprasum, L., or Rocambole 
— A. Scalonicum, L., or Schallott, &c. Bat I believe they are not much 
attended to, in this country. We have, also, a few native species ; 
but they are scarcely of sufficient importance to require the notice of 
the Agriculturist. 

6. LIL'IUM, L. Lily. 

[Ihe classical Latin name.] 

Perianth bell-.shaped or funnel-form, of 6 distinct petal-like sepals, either 
clawed or sessile, often recurved or revolute, with a central groove in- 
side near the base, deciduous. Anthers linear, versatile. Style longer 
tkan the stamens, somewhat clavate ; stigma 3-lobcd. Capsule oblong, 
3-angled, with the angles grooved ; S2eds flat, margined, in 2 rows in 
each cell. JBuIbs scaly ; stems simple, leafy ; leaves sessile, alternate, or 
whorled ; flowers very large. 

1. L. Canaden'se, L. Leaves generally and remotely whorled, lanceo- 
late, nerves and margins roughish-pubcscent ; flowers nodding, — the 
lobes sessile, recurved. 

Canadian Lilium. Wild Yellow Lily. 

iSfem 2 - 3 feet high. ieare5 2-3 inches long, in rather distant whorls of 4-6. Flowers 
3-7 or 10 (rarely solitary) , all nodding, on peduncles S - Q inches in length. Perianth 
yellow (sometimes reddish-orange), with numerous dark purple spots inside; lobes l-Z 
inches long, recurved from near the middle. 

Common in meadows. June -July. 

06s. This, which is so very abundant and showy, is introduced as a 
representative of several native and cultivated species. Besides this, we 
have several other wild sorts, which will be found described in the flo- 
ras ; the most conspicuous of them being the Turk's-cap Lily (L, super- 
bum, L.), which has sometimes as many as 20-40 flowers ; it is said 
to improve much by culture. The beautiful White Lily (L. album,) ia 
well known from being frequently cultivatsd iti gardens, as is the Tiger 
Lily (L. bulbiferum)— M'hich produces little blackish bulblets in the? 
axils of the leaves. The newly introduced Japan Lilies (L. lancifoltum, 



WEEDS 



AND 



L'SEFUL PLAXTS. 



and others), are perfectly hardy, aud so beautifiil that they should have 
a place in the smallest flower garden. 

Order LXXVIIL JUNCA'CE^. (Eush Family.) 

Herhs with joiuted $Ums^ grass-like or terete leaves and regular mostly perfect flowers. 
Perianth of 6 similar, dry and glumaceous, persistent sepals. Stamens 6 (rarely 3) ; an- 
thers intr or se. Omry free, forming in fruit a 1 - 3-celled S-valved many-seeded capsule. 
Style single. Seeds erect ; emhryo enclosed at the base of hard albumen. 
An Order possessing but little beauty or value. 

1. JUN'CUS, L. KusH. 

[Latin, JunQcre, to join ; being used +0 tie or bind objects together.] 

Sepals G, glumaceous. Stamens mostly 6, inserted on the base of the 
eepals, — sometimes those on the 3 inner sepals abortive. Stigmas 3, 
Bubsessile, filiform, villous. Capsule 3-celled, or somewhat 1-celled by 
the incompleteness of the dissepiments, 3-valved, — the valves bearing 
the dissepiments in the middle. Seeds numerous. Chiefly perennials with 
mostly simple and scape-like pithy stems and cymose, paniculate or clus- 
tered small greenish or brownish J^o^i•e?•s. 

1. J, elfll'silS, L. Stem naked, often sterile, furnished with short leaf- 
less sheaths at base, filled with spongy pith ; panicle produced from the 
side of the scape above the middle, diffusely much branched. 
Effused Juxcus. Common Rush. Soft Eush. 

Root perennial, forming tussocks. Culms 2-3 feet high, simple, soft and pliable, sheathed 
at base, and terminating at summit in a long tapering point. Inflorescence cymose-panic- 
ulate, bursting from a fissure in the side of the culm near the summit, often proliferous, 
bracteate ; bracts oblong-lanceolate, scarious. Staraens 3, shorter than the sepals, oppo- 
site the 3 outer ones ; ardhers white. Capsule trigonous-obovoid, obtuse. Seeds minute, 
oblong, acute at each end, yellowish. 

Moist meadows and low grounds : throughout the United States. Fl. June. Fr. July- 
August. 

Obs. The genus is a numerous one, — comprising about 100 known 
species — of which some 18 or 20 are natives of the U. States. They 
are all homely plants, and entirely w^orthless to the farmer ; but the one 
here given is the most troublesome, — continually forming numerous un- 
sightly bunches or tussocks, in wet low grounds — and requiring some 
attention to keep it in proper subjection. Mr. Elliott says that in 
S. Carolina, this Eush " occupies and almost covers rice-fields as soon 
as they are thrown out of cultivation." 

The " Black Grass " so common in salt marshes along the coast is 
J, bulbosus, L., and the little species so common along footpaths, seem- 
ing to flourish best where it is most trodden on, is J, bufonius, L- 

Order LXXIX. CYPEEA'CE.E. (Sedge Family.) 

Rash-like or grass-like herds, with fibrous roots and solid stems (culms), and closed 
sheaths. Flowers usually one in the axil of each of the glume-like bracts which form an 
liabricatec cli*<ter or s^jikelct. Perianth none, or consisting of scales or bristles. Slamms 



SEDGE FAMILY. 



359 



mostly 3. Ck-ary 1-celled, with a single erect ovule, becoming in fruit an al-en€, wliicli is 
lenticular v.-hen the style is 2-cleft, and triangular when it is 3-cleft. Embryo minute at 
the base of farinaceous albumen. 

An Order of some 50 genera, remarkable for their worthlessness ; and also for their 
presence, or prevalence, at least, being an indication of swampy, neglected, or valueless 
land. The herbage of this Order, unlike that of a large number of the Gramineai, or 
true Grasses, contains but little saccharine matter ; and therefore is neither nutritions nor 
palatable to stock. 

An example is given of three of the genera, selecting such as are likely to attract the no- 
tice of the farm'er. They are favorite plants with the Botanist, and those who have a 
curiosity to know more of them will And them described in the Floras. 
Flowers perfect, 2-ranked : spikes few -many-flowered. 

Perianth none. 1. Cypercs. 

Flowers perfect, scales imbricated in several ranks. 

Perianth of 3 - 6 bristles. Achenium pointed with the continuous base 
of the style. 2. ScntFrs. 

Flowers monoecious in the same or separate spikes (sometimes dioeci- 
ous). Achenium enclosed in a sac, lenticular or triangular. 3. Carex. 



1. CYPE'RUS, L. Galing.\le. 

[An ancient Greek name, — of uncertain etymology.] 

SpiJcelets many-flowered, or rarely few-flowered. Scales distichoiisly im- 
bricated, — the lowest ones empty and sometimes smaller. Perianth none 
of any kind. Stamens 2 or 3. Styles 3 (rarely 2,) united below into one, 
deciduous. Akene crustaceoiis, triquetrous or compressed. Perennial 
herbs. Culms simple, often triquetrous, leafy and sheathed at base. Leaves 
grass-like. Spikelets in loose spikes, involucrate fascicles, or umbels ; pe- 
duncles unequal, sheathed at base. 

1, C, strigo'sus, L. Spikes compressed, linear awl-shaped, crowded 
at the summit of the rays of a large open umbel ; sheaths of the pedun* 
cles 2-bristled ; style trifid ; stamens 3 ; achenium linear-oblong. 

Strigose Cyperus. Bristle-spiked Galingale. 

Cidml-2 or 3 feet high, triquetrous, smooth, leafy below and tuberous at base. Leaves 
rather broad, acute, keeled, nearly as long as the culm, somewhat scabrous on the mar- 
gin. Umbel 3-6 or 9-rayed, rather spreading ; rays unequal, 1 or 2-4 or 5 inches long, 
triquetrous, sheathed at base, the central ones suppressed (i. e.the central spikes sessile). 
Spikes yellowish, about three-fourths of an inch long, — the scales somewhat loosely imbri- 
cated, striate, with a green keel and yellowish sides. Styles long, 3 united in one, distinct 
at summit. J./i:e«.s triquetrous, oblong, acute, roughish-dotted. 

Wet meadows and low grounds : thi-oughout the United States. Fl. August. Fr. Sep- 
tember. 

Obs. This species is inserted — not as being a particularly troublesome 
weed, but — as one of the most conspicuous of the genus, in the swampy 
meadows of the middle and northern States. The two which follow 
belong rather to the Southern States, — and are there regarded as real 
jcourges by the Planters. 

2. C. phymato'des, Muhl. Eoot creeping, tuberiferous at the ex- 
tremities ; umbel mostly simple,, 4- 6-rayed ; involucre about 3-leaved, 
much longer than the rays ; spikes linear, obtuse, sub-compressed, ap- 
proximated, somewhat spreading, each 12 -20-flowered. 

^ Nut Grass," of Florida. 



360 



^VEEDS AXD USEFUL PLAXT5. 



Boot (or rhizcma) creeping exter = ■ ■ : ^ ; ; i- r , — - :. o &t r cjls 

branches ofien terminating in ri(&f ' - r : ; : : . trioue- 

trous, very smooth. Leaves 9-lS . . . ;-:::'j^cr 

slightly scabrous on the margin, y : :; . - r ' 1 - _ or 

3 inches long. Za^joZziCT-e usually "s - -r , . . . . . .. : in 

length, a little compressed, obtuse L ; = . r^e 

common rachis, — ^the lowest ones often in pairs or fasciculate : : ' : : : 

nerved, pale tawny. xSi/Zes 3, united in one, distinct at sun-'- -. _i-..7;f us. :b- 
long, minutely p-'onctate. 

Banks of streams, pastures, and cultivated grounds : X:- Eu^;-- i, west and south. 

Ohs. This species is, fortunately, ratlier rare, ii: Xortheni and Mid- 
dle States : but it is said to be a tronblesonie pi:.:.:. :;i : .ii. 

3, C. rotun'dns, i.. var. Hy'dra, Grey. Eliizoma •: r : :t- 
iferous ; umbel mostly .simple. 3 - -l-rayei involucre 2 - Z-\ ; ut 
as long as the rays ; spikes distichous fspikelets 4-9 on eacj rav. I..::c> 
linear, acute, much compressed, 10--40-fiowered, dark ce.:s:iiu:-pirp!e. 
Hydra Ctpeeus. " ^s'ut-grass," of S. Carolir.a. •• Coee-^rass." ? 

Bftizoma creeping, — ^its branches ending in tubers r.ziily h. 'f i:.:".! vi diameter 
Culm 3-S and 12 inches high, triangular, smooth, naked. Lea-Li^ all radical, shorter than 
the culm, about 2 hues wide,' acute, shghtly channelled, often recurved, somewhat gla'i- 
cous. Involvxre sometimes shorter than the umbc-1 . I?.^ ' c f th - -i -2 - Z ir. ches long, 
erect or slightly spreading. /SpiA-es nearly an in :i. i : ■ : - " i i. ^ :.l:>ngthe 
upper part of the rays,— the fccles closely imhri; - : i. gre-:n 

keel, not nerved, shghtly mucronate. Styles 3, 'ci. . A}:eiie 
triquetrous. 

Sandy fields, sand drifts, along the Sea-coast : Virginia to Florida, and Arkansas. H. 
All summer. 

Ohs. This is stated to be one of the greatest pests ^ e-ithern 

Planters. It seems to be an inhabitant of all the 4 qnar:rrs c : .1 :be. 
IMr. Elliott gives the following account of it : — • This iira^s . i^ ":o- 
comiug a great scourge to our planters. It sh; -'^; frtni tho ' n.-: :; its 
stem a thread-like fibre, which descends perpon.'.i : ..io.'v ti' Ir o-^. 
and then produces a small tuber. From this, h-tio iitoi ni.ooi tncin 1 in 
every direction, producing new tubers at iiit-rvais ot o -ir r io:i::-. and 
these immediately shoot up stems to tne itiriace of the earth, an] :.n . vr 
out lateral fibres to form a new progeny. This ]jrocess is iuterniiiiaii^ie. — 
and it is curious to see what a chain or net-work of plants and tn': tr.- oan. 
with some care, be dug up in a loose soil. Th t on';^ disciv- 
ered, by which this grass can be extirpated, i- t . i n.n :r h.e the 
spots in which it grows every day through the whole seas tn. In their 
perpetual efibrts to thi'ow their leaves to the light, the roots become ex- 
hausted and perish, — or if a few appear th- r.ex: -yrirn. they can easily 
be dug up." J. S. Skixxer, Esq.. in a ht i r . : ' no: _ a n nni n 
to the South, in the spring of 1846, sent to in: an i:.:p:::v:: ::in::n of 
a Cyperaceous plant, which I suspect to be this spr:ies : and says of 
it, — '• I send you inclosed a spear or shoot of the vilest of ahi n:s'n the 
Coco-grass,— which has taken possession of, and caused to be a' ■::; :::d. 
some of the best Sugar estates in Louisiana. Of all thiugs it s:..i h t : 
be the most tenacious of life ; and nothing serves so well to propagate 
it, as to plough and re-plough, with a vi^w to destroy it.'" 



SEDGE FAMILY. 



361 



There are numerous other species of Cyperus, ia the U. States ; but 
the foregoing- are the most important for the Agriculturist to be ac- 
quainted Vith. The Papyrus — which the ancients used, for writing 
upon, prior to the manufacture of paper from rags — was obtained from 
a species of this genus, viz : C. Papyrus, L. 

2. SCIR'PUS, X. Bulrush. 

[An ancient Latin name for the Bul-msh, — which belongs to the genus. J 

Spihclets many-flowered. Scales imbricated on all sides. Perianth of 
3-6 capillary bristles. Styles 2-3-cleft. Akene crustaceous, either 
somewhat compressed, or trigonous — according to the condition or num- 
ber of the styles or stigmas. Culms mostly simple, triangular or terete, 
often with leafless sheaths. Spikes either solitary, conglomerate or co- 
rymbose, terminal or lateral. 

1. S. pun 'gens, Vahl. Culm triquetrous, nearly leafless ; spikes ovoid- 
oblong (1-5), in a dense cluster long overtopped by the pointed invo- 
lucral leaf; scales orbicular-ovate, emarginate, mucronate ; bristles 2-6, 
slender, shorter than the akene ; styles 2, united below, free at summit ; 
akene subcompressed, obscurely trigonous, abruptly acuminate. 
Sharp-pointed Scirpus. Chair-maker's Push. 

22ooi (or r/iieoma) creeping. Culm 2-4 or 5 feet high, cuspidate at summit, acutely 
triquetrous, naked and smooth, sheathed at base, — the sheaths often bearing a few short 
triangular-carinate leaves. Spikes nQOiTly sessile, in a dense lateral cluster, — i. e. at the 
base of an erect tapering l-leaved involucre, which is apparently a continuation of the 
culm. Scales often emarginate, and mucronate with the projecting midrib, ferruginous on 
the sides, the margins scarious and pubesceut-ciliate. Bristles retrorsely scabrous, brittle. 
Akene smooth, dark-brown. 

Swampv meadovrs and muddy margins of rivers — salt and fresh : throughout the United 
States. Fl. July. Fr. Sept. 

Obs. This is the plant used in making the seats of " Rush-bottomed 
Chairs,'"' in the U. States. Some of the English Botanists say, the 
terete culms of the S. lacustris, L., or common Bulrush, are used for 
that purpose, — which I think must be a mistake ; as they are certainly 
much inferior, in tenacity and pliability, to those of this species, — and 
the chair-makers would be apt to discover the fact. Numerous species 
of this genus occur in our wet low grounds ; but, although of no value 
in Agriculture, they scarcely require notice, here, — inasmuch as they 
are neither very troublesome, nor difficult to get rid of, by draining, and 
other appropriate management of the grounds. 

3. CA'REX, L. Sedge. 

[A classical name, — of obscure etymology.] 

Slam inate and pistillate flowers either in distinct spikes on the same plant 
(moncLcious) or indifferent portions of the same spike, ( androgynous )y 
rarely on distinct plants (dicecious). Scales 1-flowered, imbricated on 
all sides. Stamens mostly 3. Ovary included in a membranous (often 
16 



302 



WEEDS AXI) USEFUL PLANTS, 



Vjeaked and inflated) sic or peri gynhm. Alcene lenticular or triquetrous 
(according as the stigmas aae 2 or 3), more or less beaked with the ba-se 
of the style. Perennial herbs with usually c^espitose culms which are tri- 
angular, often nodose and leafy. Spikes terminal and axillary, mostly 
bracied at base. 

Obs. The three species here described, are inserted merely as samples 
of a very extensive genus of unprofitable plants, — of Avhich every intelli- 
gent farmer would like to know something. Those who may desire to 
become better accjuainted with the family, will find the species well de- 
scribed, in various Monographs and Floras. 

^ Spikes all axdrogyxous. 

f SpiJces clustered, starainate at their summit. Stigmas 2. 

1. C. vuipinoi'dea, Muhl. Spike oblong, decompound, interrupted, 
bracteate, — of 8-10 crowded clusters; fruit compressed, ovate, acumi- 
nate, 3-nerved, scabrous on the margin, finally diverging, rather shorter 
than the ovate cuspidate scale. 

YuLPiXA-LiKE Carex. Sedgc. Sedge-grass. 

Culm about 2 feet high, obtusely triangular and leafy at base, acutely triquetrous above. 
Leaves lance-linear, channelled above, scabrous on the margin, — the upper ones over- 
topping the culm ; sheatJis transversely rugose on the side opposite the leaves. Spike 2-3 
inches long, formed of numerous spikelets which are crowded into clusters a httle sepa- 
rated from each other, and either appressed to the rachis or diverging. Bracts at the base 
of the compound spike, and also of the principal clusters, often long and foliaceous, — 
those at the base of the spikelets, short, setaceous and scabrous. Staniinate glumes lan- 
ceolate, with a short point. Pistillate glumes ovate, with a long serrulate point. Fruit 
3-nerved, bifid at apex, rather small, densely crowded, finally much diverging, and yel- 
lowish. 

Swamps and low grounds : Northern and Middle States. Fl. May. Fi: July. 

Obs. This, like all the other species of this very numerous genus 
(amounting to some 300 or more), is a very worthless plant ; and is'often 
quite al3undant in wet meadows. The form of the akenes, in Carex— 
like those of Polygonum, already noticed— has a constant relation to 
the number of styles or stigmas. When the stigmas (or stigmatose 
branches) are 2, the akene is compressed, and ancipital or 2-edged ; but 
Vvhen there are 3 stigmas, the akene is uniformly triquetrous. A similar 
relation, between the form of the akene or nut, and the number of the 
styles or stigmas, appears to exist in numerous other instances, — as in 
Eumex, Rheum, Scirpus, Cyperus, Fagus, IMorus, Alnus, Betula, &c.. 
&c., and the law may, perhaps, be general. 

Staminate and pistillate spikes, distinct. 
I Staminate spike solitary : pistillate subsessile. Stigmas 3. 

2. C. tentacnla'ta, MuJd. Staminate spike bracteate, on a short p9 
duncle ; pistillate spikes about 3, cylindric-oblong, approximate, hon 
zoutal, the uppermost sessile, the lower on short exserted stalks; bract? 



SEDGE FAMILY. 



3G3 



long, foliaceoiis ; fruit densely crowded, ovoid, ventricose, nerved, long- 
beaked, about twice as long as the lance-linear awned scale ; the beak 
with short, minutely serrulate teeth. 

TeNTACULATE 0^ M>JfY-BEAKED CaEEX. 

"Whole plant ysllowish-green. Culm 12-18 inches high, triquetrous, scahrous on the 
angles abore, lealy. Leaves linear-lanceolate, nerved, scabrous on the margin, longer 
than the culm. Staminate spike about an inch long, with a narrow lance-linear hract at 
base longer than the spike ; glumes lance-linear, terminated by a long scabrous awn. Pis- 
tillate spikes commonly 2-3 (often but 1 — rarely 4), about an inch or an inch and a half 
long, — the upper ones approximate, sessile — the lowest one a little distant on a short 
scarcely exserted peduncle ; glumes terminated by a long setaceous scabrous awn. Bracts 
resembling the leaves, very long. Fruit ovoid, inflated, spreading, smooth and shining, at- 
tenuated into a long straight slender beak. Akene triquetrous, roughish puncticulate. 

Swampy low grounds. Fl. May- June. Fr. August. 

Ohs. This is a very common species, in the swampy meadows of Penn- 
sylvania,— and probably throughout the greater portion of the United 
States. 

ff Staminate spikes mostly 2 or more. Stigmas 2. 

3. C. stric'ta, Lam. Staminate spikes 1-3 ; pistillate spikes usually 
2 or 3, rather distant, cylindric, subsessile, often staminate at summit ; 
fruit compressed, ovate, with a very short beak and the orifice entire, 
about as long as the oblong-lanceolate awnless scale. 

Upeight Caeex. Tussock-sedge. 

Culms 1-2 feet high, very slender and acutely triquetrous, striate, minutely serrulate 
on the angles, leafy at base, — usually growing in large dense tufts, or tussocks. Leaves 
narrow, linear, keeled, scabrous on the margin, often longer than the culm, — the radical 
ones very numerous anil loosely spreading, forming a large tuft of a lively bluish-green. 
Staminate spikes 2-3 (often solitary), erect, sessile except the uppermost one ; glumes 
oblong, mostly obtuse. Pistillate spikes 3 (or often but 2), 1 - 2 inches long, rather slen- 
der, — the lowest one on a very short peduncle — the upper one sessile, and often staminate 
at summit (androgynous) ; glumes brown, with a green keel. Fruit ovate, elliptic, or 
obovate, smooth. Akenes obovate, mucronate, puncticulate. 

Swamps : throughout the United States. Fl. April. Fi: June. 

Obs. It is the most common, and most troublesome, of all the species. 
It is true, that a pedestrian, in crossing neglected boggy meadows, finds 
its dense tufts quite a convenience, to step on, — yet it is decidedly more 
farmer-like to provide good walking, in such places, by ditching and 
draining. The tussocks, formed by the matted fibrous roots, of this 
species of Carex, are often very large, and very durable. I once hauled 
a quantity of them into the barn-yard, with a hope that they might de- 
compose, and make manure ; but they effectually resisted decomposition, 
and were tossed about the yard for years, — as large, and almost as inde- 
structible, as so many hatters' blocks. The best way to dispose of 
them, is to collect them — when cut out and dried — into a heap, and burr 
them, — taking care afterwards, by appropriate draining, to prevent the 
growth of others. 



3G4 



WEEDS AND USEFUL PLANTS. 




Fig. 245. The ilany-beaked Carex (Carex tentaculata). 246. A fruit with its brad 
247. The akenc removed from the perigynium. 



GEA3S FAMILY, 



365 



GEAIIIX'E^. (Grass FAiiL^x.) 

True Grassis, v> \ih mostly hollow stems (culms) wliicli are cyliudrical and jointed, closed 
at the joints (nodes); leaves alternate, 2-ranked, parallel-nerved, the dilated j:e<w/e (sheath) 
surrounding the culm and split open on the side opposite to the blade, and furnished at 
the junction with the blade with a more or less manifest scarious appendage (ligide). 
J^ZoiA^ers perfect, polygamous or monoecious (rarely dicBcious) , imbricated with 2-ranked 
glumes or bracts, the outer pair (glumes), subtending a spikelet of one or several flowers, 
the inner pair (palece) enclosing each particular flower which is destitute of a propei 
perianth. Stamens 1-6, usually 3; anthers versatile. Ovary 1-ceUed, 1-ovuled, usually 
with 2-3 scales (squamula) at base. Styles mostly 2 or 2-parted ; stigmas plumose or 
hairy. Fruit a seed-like grain (caryopsis) ; embryo small at the base and on the outside 
of copious farinaceous albumen. Aimuals or perennials, with_^f/j-oi«s roots, often caespiioso. 
SpiJcdets paniculate or spiked, upper (inner) palea 2-nerved or 2-keeled. 

This vast Order — comprising some 230 genera, and perhaps not less than 3000 species — 
is probably the most generally diffused, and the most important to man, of all the families 
of plants. The seeds, and herbage, furnish a principal portion of the food of the human 
race, and of the more valuable domestic animals. A great number of the Grasses, how- 
ever, are little better than weeds, on a farm, — and some of them exceedingly annoying. 
Those which the American Agriculturist is more immediately interested to know, are here 
inserted. 

1. The Poa Sub-family. 



Spikelets 1- many-flowered ; when more than one-flowered, the lowest developing first, the 
uppermost if any, imperfect or abortive, the rest perfect, or occasionally monoecious or 
dioecious — except in Xos. 16 and 23, where the lowest florets are stio^inate. 
§ 1. Spikelets 1-flowered, in panicles, tbe flowers often monoecious. , Humes very small or 
wanting. Inner palea 3-nerved. Stamens 1-6. 
Flowers perfect. 

Glumes wanting. Flowers flattened. Paleae awaless. 
Glumes 2, small, cuspidate, fctamens 6. 
Flowers monoecious. 

Fertile flowers awned. 
^ 2. Spikelets 1-flowered, perfect, sometimes with the abortive rudi 
ment or pedicel of a second flower above, pauicled, the panicU 
sometimes contracted into a dense spike or head. Stamens ntf 
more than three. 
Flowers in a dense cylindrical spike. Glumes equal, stronglj 
flattened, and with the palese herbaceous. 
Glumes united at base. Lower palea awaed, the uppei 
wanting. 

Glumes distinct at base. Palese 2, the lower trimcate and 
awnless. 

Flowers mostly loosely panicled, not strictly spiked, usually 
small. Glumes equal or unequal, membranaceous. Flower 
raised on a more or less evident stalk (callus) in the glumes. 
Flower naked or barely hairy at base. 

Glumes equal or the lower one rather longer, pointless, 
exceeding the very thin, blunt paleae. Lower palea 
pointless, commonly awned on the hack ; the upper 
sometimes wanting. 
Lower glume mostly smaller. PaleiB often hairy at base_ 
the lower one mucronate or awned at the tip. 
Flower hairy-tufted at base. 

Lower palea mostly awned on the back, not bristle- 
pointed, shorter than the glumes. 
^3. Spikelets (rarely 1-fiowered) usuall}' 2 - several-flowered, witL 
one or more of the upper flowers imperfect, disposed in one-sided 
racemose or digitate spikes. Glumes persistent, the upper one 
looking outward. Rachis not jointed. Stamens 2-3. 
Spikelets with one perfect flower below and one or more neutral 
ones above. Flower and rudiment awnless. Spikes slender, 
digitate. 



Leersia. 
Okyza. 



3. ZlZANTA. 



4. ALOFECURCa 

5. Thleum, 



7 M>:m^i,i::aaiA 



8 



^66 



AYEEDS AND USEFUL PLANTS. 



14. 



16. 



Spikelets with more than one of the lower flowers perfect. 
Spikes digitate at the suD tnit of the culm, dense. Glumes 
and paleae both awnless anu blunt. 
§ 4. Spikelets several- (few to many-) flowered, often with the upper- 
most (rarely the lowest) floret imperfect or abortive, — usually 
disposed in open panicles. Paleas pointless or the lower one some- 
times tipped with a straight awn or bristle. Stamens 1-3. 
* Culms herbaceous. Lower flowers of the spikelets all perfect. 
Grain free from the palese and smooth. 

Glumes (rather long) and the lower palea awn-pointed, 
herbaceous, compressed-keeled. Panicle contracted in 
one-sided clusters. 
Lower paloa awnless and pointless . 

Lower palea rounded on the back, 5-7-nerved, scarious 
at the tip. Spikelets many-flowered, the rachis com- 
monly breaking up into joints at maturity. 
Lower palea laterally compressed, mostly keeled, mem- 
branaceous, 5-nervcd, the margins or nerves below 
often cobwebby-pubescent. Spikelets flattened. 13 
Lower palea convex on the back, acute, sub-coriaceous, 
o-5-nerved, not cobwebby at base. 
Grain adherent to the upper palea and hairy at the apex. 

Lower palea convex or keeled on the back, mostly awned 
below the 2-cleft tip, 5-9 nerved. 
** Culms herbaceous, often tall and reed-hke. Lowest flower sterile. 

Spikelets strongly silky-bearded on the rachis, loosely 
flowered. 

*** Culms woody, suffruticosc or arborescent. 

Spikelets flattened, loosely 5- 14-flowered. 17. 
^ 5. Spikelets 1 -several-flowered, sessile on opposite sides of a zigzag 
jointed rachis (which is toothed or excavated on one side of each 
joint) , forming a spike. Glumes sometimes abortive or wanting. 
Otherwise as in § 4. 
Spikelets single at each joint of the rachis ; several-flowered. 

Glume 1, external. Spikelets placed edgewise on the rachis. 18, 
Glumes 2, transverse (right and left) ; spikelets placed flat- 
wise on the rachis. 
Spikelets 3 -several-flowered. 19 
Spikelets 2-flowered. 20 
Spikelets 2-4 at each joint of the rachis. 

Spikelets 1-flowered, 3 at each joint, the 2 lateral ones usually 
sterile. 

fj 6. Spikelets 2- several -flov»'ered,panicled ; the rachis or base of the 
flowers often villous-bearded. Glumes mostly equalling or exceed- 
ing the flowers. Lower palea mostly bearing a twisted, bent or 
straight awn on its back below its apex. Stamens 3. 
Flowers all perfect, or the uppermost merely rudimentary. 
Lower palea cleft at the apex into 2 acute teeth. 
Awn proceeding from the mid-nerve only, below the apex, 
mostly twisted or bent. Lower palea rounded on the back. 
One of the flowers staminate only. 

Lower flower staminate ; the perfect one commonly awnless; 

the uppermost a rudiment. Otherwise as in 22. 23. 
Lower flower perfect and awnless ; the upper staminate and 
awned. Rudiment none. 24, 



10. ELEUSDfS. 



11. Dactyus. 



12. Glyckru. 



roA, 

FeSTL'C.\. 



15. Bromus. 



PmiAGMITES. 

Aruxdi.varia 



LOLIUM. 



TRmcrM 
Secale. 



21. HORDECM. 



22. AvESA. 



Arrhenathervji 

HOLCUS. 



2. The Ph^^laris Sub-tribe. 

Spikelets more or less panicled, 3-flowered, the uppermost or middle 
flower perfect ; those (apparently) on each side imperfect, staminate, 
iieutral or reduced to an inconspicuous rudiment. 

Lateral flowers neutral, each of a single awned palea, the per- 
fect flower awnless with 2 stamens. 25. Axthoxanthum. 
I_ateral flowers reduced to a small rudiment on each side of the 
coriaceous, shining, flattened fertile one 26 Phalaris. 



^ GKASS FAMILY. 



3. The Panicum Sub-tribe. 

Spikelets 2 -flowered, but the lower floret always imperfect, either 
starainate or neutral ; in the latter case reduced to a single empty 
palea (placed next to the lower glume if that be present) ; the upper 
(terminal) flower (placed next the upper glume) only fertile. Flow- 
ers polygamous or monoecious, sometimes apparently simple and 
1-flowered from the abortion of the lower glume and the upper palea 
of the neutral flower. Rarely both glumes are absent. 
^ 1. Palese of the fertile florets coriaceous or chartaceous, awnless, 
not keeled, embracing the smooth grain, flattened parallel with the 
herbaceous glumes. 
Spikelets appearing as if 1-flowered from the suppression of the 
lower glume ; the single empty palea of the neutral flower oc- 
cupying its place. Spikelets jointed with their short pedicels. 27. Paspalom., 
Spikelets manifestly l>^-2-flowered (the lower floret neutral or 
staminate), the lower glume being present. 
Spikelets not involucrate nor the peduncles bristle-bearing. 
Lower glume smaU or minute. Sterile flower staminate 
or neutral. 28. Panicum. 

Spikelets spiked-panicled, the peduncles continued beyond 

the flower into a bristle. Otherwise as in 28. 29. Settaru. 

Spikelets enclosed, 1 - 5 together in a hard and spiny bur- 
like involucre. 30. Cenchbus. 
§2. Paleae membranaceous or scarious, always of thinner and more 
delicate texture than the (often indurated) glumes, — frequently 
awned at the apex. Spikelets usually in pairs or threes, panicled 
or spiked ; monoecious or polygamous. 
Spikelets monoecious ; the pistillate ones imbedded in the rachis 
of the continuous spike or in its separable joints. The stami- 
nate spikelets above. 
Pistillate spikelets imbedded in the joints of the spontane- 
ously separable naked rachis. 31. Tripsactm, 
Pistillate spikelets along the sides of a continuous rachis, 
which is enclosed by the sheaths of abortive leaves or 
husks. 32. Zea 
Spikelets polygamous. Fertile spikelets with one perfect and one 
sterile {staminate or mostly neutral) floret. Lower palea of the 
perfect flower awned. 
Spikelets in pairs at each joint of the rachis, one pedicellate the 
other sessile. 

The upper floret in each spikelet fertile. 33. Sacchap.t.'m. 

The sessile spikelet only fertile. 34. Am)ROPo«jok, 

Spil elets 2-3 together, in loose open panicles, the lateral cues 
s*vile, or often mere rudlDaents. 36. SoSGBua 



S68 



TfTEEDS AXD USEFUL PLANTS. 




The abovj c-:ts represent in detail three diffjrent forms of the inflorescence of grasses. Fi'G. 
24?. A spikelet of a one-fiowerel grass, a The lower, and 6 the upper glume, c The lower 
palea. cZ The r,pp:-r palea harlng" fsvo nerves, e The stamens and pistil, the latter ^^";th 
two pl'imose stigmas, ana two scales a: its base. Fig. 249. Spikelet of a three-fiowered 
grass (Anthoxanth im) with one l:)wer only fertile. Fne parts separate! and placed in 
their relative posirion helow. a and & Fne lower and upper glumes, c and The im- 
perfect florets, each of a sinrie awned palea. e Lower palea of the perfect flower. 
/Upper palea of the same, a Ti:? twj stamens. Ti The pistil. Fig. 24?.' A spikelet of a 
several-flowered grass, a ai i \, I. vvr a- i -jpp^r ciames. c d e f. The flowers placed 
oa alternate sides of a short stem t-r r.ich:i. g A terminal abortive floret. 



GEASS TA2ilLY. 



3G9 



1. LEER'SIA, Solander. False Eice. 

pTamed in honor of Jr/an Daniel Leers; a German Botanist.] 

SpiMets 1-fiowered, perfect, disposed in one-sided racemose pankles, ar- 
ticulated with the short pedicels. Glumes wanting. Fahcz chartaceoiiS; 
compressed carinate. awnless, bristly-ciliate on the keels, nearly equal in 
length, but the lower one much broader and boat-shaped, enclcsiDg the 
flat grain. Stamens 1-6. Stigmas plumose with braEching hairs. 
Perennial marsh grasses, with the culms, sheaths and flat leaves retrorseiY 
scabrous. 

1. L. oryzoi'des, Su-artz. Panicle diffusely branched ; florets trian- 

drous ; paleae conspicuously ciliate on the keel. 

Ortza ok Rice-like Leeesia. Cut-grass. False or wild Eice. 

Foci perennial, creeping. Cidm 3-5 feet high, striate, scabrous with minnte retrorso 
prickles, the nodes pubescent. Leaves 6-12 inches long, lance-linear, acuminate, keeled, 
retrorsely and sharplr scabrous, ciliate on the margin ; sheaths sulcate-striate, very rough 
with retrorse prickles in the grooves : ligule short, retuse. Panicle usually sheathed at 
base, much branched : branches flexuoso, the lower cues in threes and fours. SpikeleU 
elliptic-obloEg, pedicellate, greenish-white. Palece compressed, pectinate-cihate on the 
keel, the lower one boai-shapeJ, S-nerved, the upper one a little longer, linear, 1-nerved. 

Swamps, and along sluggish rivulets : throughout the United States. ' Fl. August. Pr. 
Sept. 

Ohs. This rough grass seems to be common to both hemispheres, — 
and is often quite abundant in our swampy meadows, and along the mar- 
gins of muddy stream?. Although this grass is said to have some value 
at the South, it is in the Xorthern States considered not only worthless, 
but rather a nuisance. The farmer should therefore know it, and take 
measures (by drainage, &c.) to expel it, or keep it in subjection. 

2. ORT'ZA, L. Eice. 

[The Greek nam3 of Rice, — coined from Eruz. its Arabic name.] 

Spikelets 1-flowered, perfect. Glumes 2, small, awnless but cuspidate, 
slightly concave. Palez 2. compressed-carinate, nearly equal in 
length, — the lower one broader, and often with a straight awn at apex. 
Stamens 6. Ovary smooth : stigmas plumose, — the hairs branched. 
Caryopsis oblong, free, closely embraced by the persistent paleie. 
1. 0. SATi'vA, L. Leaves lance-linear, elona'ated. rouo-h : panicle race- 
mose, contracted ; branches slender, rough ; palece oblong, scabrous, 
awnless or often with a terminal awn. 
CcxTivATED Op.yza. Elce. Common Eice. 
Fr. Le Eiz. Germ. Der Eeiss. Span. Arroz. 

Root annual. Calm 2-4 or -5 feet h'-S:. =r;: r-.h, striate. Z^.-ti 5-:? ^.rbos long 

oroadLsh, rough on the upper surface. ih ; sheaths s:, . ' . smooth^' 

lioule elongated (hah" an inch to thre-- - -ingth), erec: . a point' 

i%mcfe oblong. 4-S or 9 inches in len;-;„. .. .„ branches ereci. i u - j- .i.i,! nerved 

ar ribbed, hispidly scabrous, often awned, the inner one awnless. ^ 

Cultivated in the Southern States, Xative of Asia ? Fl. Fr. 

16- 



370 



WEEDS AND USEFUL I'LAXTS. 



Obs. There are several varieties of cultivated Rice ; some, called JIp- 
land or Mountain Rice, usually awnless,— others, with the paleee com- 
monly awned, or mucronate, cultivated in low grounds which can be 
irrigated, or overflowed with water. The aquatic variety is one of the 
staple crops of South Carolina. The importance of this plant, to the 
inhabitants of the tropical regions, generally — but especially in Asia- 
can scarcely be estimated by the residents of higher latitudes. It is be- 
lieved that its seeds enter more largely into the nourishment of the hu- 
man family than those of any other plant — not excepting even Wheat. 

3. ZIZA'NIA, Gronov. Isbian Rice. 

[A Greek name of some plant now doubtful.] 

Flowers monoecious ; the staminate i^nd pistillate ones in the same pani- 
cle, both 1-flowered. Glumes wanting, or in the pistillate spikelets ru- 
dimentary and cup-shaped. Falex herbaceo-membranaceous, convex, 
awnless in the staminate spikelets, but tipped with a straight awn in the 
pistillate ones. Stamens 6. Stigmas pencil-form. Stout aquatic 
grasses ; spikelets readily separating at maturity from the club-shaped 
pedicels with v»'hich they are articulated. 

1. Z. aquat'ioa, L. Panicle pyramidal, — the lower branches spreading, 
bearing staminate flowers — the upper branches erect, bearing' pistillate 
flowers ; spikelets on clavate pedicels ; awns long ; caryopsis slender, 
elongated. 

Aquatic ZiZu^nia. "Water Oats. Reed. Indian Rice. 

Root perennial. Culm 4 - 8 or 10 feet high, stout, fistular, terete, glabrous. Leaves 1-2 
or 3 feet long, and an inch to an iucli and a half wide, linear-lanceolate, keeled, smooth, 
serrulate on the margin ; slieaths striate, smooth, the base, at the nodes, surrounded with 
a ring of short silky appressed pubescence ; ligule rather large, elongated, erect, lanceo- 
late, finally lacerate-dentate, often purphsh. Panicle 1-2 feet long, the branches verti- 
cillate. Fisiillale sjrikdeis about an inch long, needle-like, somewhat racemose on the 
branches. Palece scabrous, dark greenish-purple, the lower one closely embracing tha 
upper one, and terminating in a slender straight hispid awn as long as the spikelet. 

Muddy margins of tide waters, swampy rivulets, kc. : throughout the United States. 
Fl. Aug. Fr. Sept. - Oct. 

Obs. This fine stout Grass is well known, along the muddy shores of 
our tide waters, as the favorite resort of the Reed-bird (Emberiza Oryzi- 
vora, L.), in autumn. Mr. Elliott supposed it might be a valuable 
grass, in overflowed or marshy meadows, — as its leaves, he says, are eaten 
with avidity by stock of all descriptions. I do not know that it has 
been found of much importance, in that respect, in the northern or mid- 
dle States. The grain is gathered by the North- Western Indians by 
beating it off into their canoes as they sail among the reeds. 

4. ALOPECU'RUS, i. Foxtail Grass. 

[Greek, AlojJex, a fox, and Oura, a tail ; in allusion to the form of the spike.] 

Spikelets 1-flowered. Glumes strongly compressed and keeled, awnless, 
nearly equal, united at base. Loicer p^lea equalling or shorter than tha 



372 



WEEDS AXD USEFUL PLANTS. 



glumes, awned on the back below the middle, upper palea '.. anting 
Styles commonly united ; stigmas long and plumose. Flowers in a dense, 
soft, cylindrical terminal spile. 

1. A. praten'sis, L. 'Culm erect, smooth ; palea equalling the acuta 
glumes ; awn exserted more than half its length, twisted. 
Meadow Alopecurus. Common or Meadow Foxtail. 

Perennial. Culvi cabout 2 feet high, smooth. Leaves smooth, flat, the upper one much 
shorter than its inflated sheatJi. The spike-hke pajiicZe 1-2 inches long, yellowish green. 
Glumes and palea hairy and ciliate. 

Meadows ; New England and New York. Native of Eiu'ope. May. 

Obs. This is considered a valuable pasture grass in England, produc- 
ing a luxuriant aftermath. According to Mr. Flint, (" Grasses and 
Forage Plants," a work containing many useful statistics), it is not 
valued by the Massachusetts farmers, as a field grass, on account of be- 
ing so light in proportion to its bulk. Two other species are found in 
the country, but they are of no value in agriculture. * 

5. PHLE'UM, L. Cats-tail Grass. 

[An ancient Greek name ; meaning obscure.] 

Palece 2, membranaceous, shorter than the mucronate or a^'ued glumes ; 
the lower palea truncate, usually awnless. (SYi//e5 distinct. Other char- 
acters much as in Alopecurus. Culms somewhat wiry ; spikes dense 
and harsh. 

1. P. pra'^en'se, i. Spike cyliudric, elongated ; glumes truncate, mu- 
cronately pawned, — the awns shorter than the glumes ; keel ciliate. 
Meadow Phleum. Cats-tail Grass. Herds Grass of New England 
and New-York. Timothy of Pennsylvania, &c. 

Fr. Fieok des Pres. Germ. Das Wiesen-lieschgras. 

Root perennial, fibrous. Culm 2-4 feet high, simple, terete, smooth, — when old rather 
Qrm and wiry, and often somewhat bulbous at base. Leaves 6-12 or 15 inches long 
lance-linear, acute, flat, glaucous, somewhat scabrous ; sheatlis striate, smooth ; ligule 
membranaceous, obtuse, finally lacerate. Sjnke 3-6 or 8 inches long, green. Glumes 
equal, compressed, abruptly mucronate, pubescent. Palece concealed in the glumes, the 
lower ovi-i larger. Anthers purple. Stigmas white. 

Fields and meadows : cultivated. Native of Europe. Fl. June. Fr. July. 

Ohs. This foreign Grass is extensively naturalized in the United States. 
In New-York, and throughout New-England, it is known by the name 
of Herds Grass, — a name which, in Pennsylvania — and I believe in all 
the States South — is applied exclusively to Agrostis vulgaris, L. The 
Meadow Phleum, or Timothy, is very generally cultivated in Eastern 
Pennsylvania ; and is undoubtedly one of the most valuable of the " arti- 
ficial grasses," so called. Mixed in about equal proportions with red 
clover (Trifolium pratexse, L.) it makes the best quality of Hay. It 
requires a good soil, — and is considered a rather severe and exhausting 
crop ; — inasmuch as the aftermath, or second growth of radical leaves, is 
somewhat scant and tardy during the dry weather which usually sue- 



GRASS FAMILY. 



373 



ceeds harvest ; and tlius the ground is left exposed to the injurious in- 
fluence of the scorching sun. The clover, however, when present in suf- 
ficient quantity, soon springs up and affords a shelter to the soil ; and, 
when the land is good, the green grass (Poa pkatensis, L.), comes in, 




spontaneously, as the clover disappears. The seed, of Timothy, is 
usually sown in autumn, — among, and immediately after Wheat and 
Eye ; though it answers very well, when sown early the ensuing spring 

6. AGKOS'TIS, L. Bent-grass. 

[Greek, Agros, a field ; its usual place of growtii.] 

Spilcelets in an open panicle, 1-flowered. Glumes nearly equal, often 
longer than the paleae, pointless. Palcce very thin, pointless, naked at 
the base; the lower 3-5-nerved, sometimes awned on the back, the 
upper often minute or wanting. Stamens usually 3. Mostly perennials 
with slender csespitose culms. 

1. A. vulga'ris, With. Culms slender, mostly erect; leaves lancb- 
linear ; panicle loose, ovoid-oblong in its outline, — usually purple ; pa- 
leae awnless, — the lower one twice the size of the upper one ; ligule 
truncate, very short. 

Common Agrostis. Herd-grass (of Penn.) Eed-top. 

Root perennial, creeping. Culms csespitose, very slender, erect or ascending, 1-2 feet 
high. Xeat-es 3 - 6 or 8 inches long, nerved, scabrous; sheaths striate, smooth. Panicle 
mostly purple — the branches capillary, alternatingly semi-verticillate, smoothishor often 
scabrous. Glumes smooth, except on the keel, lanceolate, acute, finally expanding. 
Palece membranaceous, smooth at base, — the lower one nearly as long as the glumes, 
the upper one very small, retuse. 

Pastures and moist meadows : introduced. Native of Europe. Fl. July. Fr. August, 

Obs. This grass is somewhat variable in its botanical characters, — 
as may be inferred from one of the specific names it has received, viz. : 
A. polymorpha. It is often cultivated in some districts of the country, 
and answers a tolerably good purpose in wet or swampy meadows, which 



Fig. 253. A spikelet of Timothy (rhleum pratense). 254. The fleet removed from tna 
glumes. 




t'lG. '255. Tho Red-top or Herd-grass of Pennsylvania (Agrostis vulgaris). 256. A 
^pikelet. 257. The floret removed from tue glumes. 



GEASS FAMILY. 



375 



di roots tend to consolidate ; but it is not among the niost esteemed 
grasses, — either for pasture or Lay. It should be borne in mind, by 
dealers in seeds, that this is not the " Herd-grass of New York and 
New England, — which is Phleum pratense, or Timothy. The whole 
genus (Agrostis,) is known in England by the name of " Bent Grass," 
and one of the species [A. Alba, L., var. stolonifera), was quite cele- 
brated some years ago under the name of " Florin Grass," as being su- 
perior to all others for yielding great crops of hay ; but like many 
other plants whose value has been exaggerated, it has nearly ceased to 
attract notice. 

7. MUSLENBEEG'IA, Schreber. Drop-seed Grass. 

pa honor of Eev. Henry Muhleiiberg, D. D. ; an early and eminent American Botanist.] 

Spihdets mostly in contracted panicles. Glumes acute or bristle-pointed, 
persistent ; the lower rather smaller, sometimes very minute. Florets 
very short stalked, or sessile in the glumes ; palccB usually hairy at base, 
herbaceous, deciduous with the enclosed grain, often ecjual ; the low^r 
one 3-nerved, mucronate or awned at the apex. Stamens 3. Perennials 
with branching rigid culms from scaly creeping roct-stalks ; leaves short 
and narrow. 

1. M. diifll'sa, Schreber. Culms slender, diffusely branching ; leaves 
short, spreading ; panicles terminal and lateral, contracted and slender : 
glumes very minute, the lower obsolete ; lower palea with an awn once 
or twice its length. 

Spreading Muhlexbergia. Drop-seed Grass. Nimble Will. 

Culm 6-12 and 18 inches long, decumbent, geniculate, crmprcsscd, very slender and 
rather wiry, glabrous, much branched — the branches assurgeM. Leaves 1 - 2 or 3 inches 
in length, divaricate, lance-linear, acute roughish ; sheaths raihcr open, striate, pubescent 
at throat ; ligule \ cry short, finally lacerate or ciliate. Panicles 3-6 or 8 inches long, 
very slender, often, purplish — the branches alternate, rather distant, appressed, scabrous; 
spikelds all pedicellate, racemose. Glumes persistent, very minute — the lower one a mere 
rudiment, the upper one trunciate, laciniate-dentatc. Palece unequal, — the lower one 
longer, almost triangular, with 3 prominent, scabrous nerves, and terminating in a slender 
scabrous awn, which is generally a httle longer than the palea itself. Caryopsis linear- 
oblong, acute, brown. 

Pastures, yards and borders of .dry open woodlands. Fl. August -September. Fr. 
September - October. 

Obs. This sleixler grass often appears in considerable quantity in 
the latter part of summer, in fields which have been kept up some years 
for pasture. Cattle feed on it ; but it is not so valuable as several of 
the other grasses herein mentioned. It is said to be known in Kentucky 
by the name of " Nimble Will." In Pennsylvania it has scarcely been 
noticed by the farmers sufficiently to acquire a common name. 

. 2. M. Mexica'na, Trin. Culms ascending, much branched ; panicles 
terminal and lateral, contracted ; glumes acuminate, nearly as long as 
the palcaj ; paleas nearly equal, pilose at base, Tery acute, but. not awned 



376 



WEEDS AND USEFUL PLANTS. 



Mexican Muhlenbergia. 

JZooi perennial, creeping. <7«.Zms erect or ascending, 1-2 or 3 feet high, slender and 
wiry, with numerous sv/elling nodes, much branched and leafy above, often becoming 
nearly nalced below. Leaves 2-4 or 5 inches long, lance-linear, acute, nerved, scabrous, 
especially on the upper surface ; sheaths smooth, compressed and but partially embracing 
the culm ; ligule short, obtuse and lacerate. Panicles numerous, 2- 3 inches in length, 
contracted and rather dense-flowered, — ^the lateral ones partly sheathed at base. Glumes 
narrow-lanceolate, with scarious margins and a subulate point. Palece usually longer than 
the glumes (sometimes twice as long) , the lower one occasionally terminating in an awn. 

Moist grounds, borders of fields and woodlands. Fl. August. Fr. September. 

Obs. This species affords an indifferent pasture in the latter part of 
summer ; but it is not of much worth. It is better to supersede these — 
and all grasses of inferior quality — by the introduction of more valua- 
ble ones, and it can be done by the aid of lime and manure. When the 
soil is enriched and properly managed, the better kinds of natural 
Grasses (especially Poa and Festuca) soon come in spontaneously and 
expel the others. 

8. CALAMAGROS'TIS, Adans. Reed Bent-Grass. 

[Greek, Kalamos, a reed, and Agrostis ; from its afhnity to both.] 

Spikelets in an open or contracted, sometimes spiked panicle, 1-flowered, 
and often with a rudiment or pedicel of an abortive second Jioret. 
Glumes commonly nearly equal, keeled, often acute and longer than the 
floret which is invested at base by a tuft of white hairs. Lower palea 
mostly awned on the back ; the upper shorter, with the rudimentary, 
often plumose, pedicel at its base. Stamens 3. Perennials with running 
root-stocks and mostly tall, simple rigid culms. 

1. C. Canaden'sis, Beauv. Panicle loose, oblong, often purplish ; lower 
palea rather shorter than the lanceolate acute glumes, not exceeding 
the very fine hairs, bearing an extremely delicate awn below the mid- 
dle ; rudimentary pedicel minute. 

Caxadian Calamagrostis. Blue Joint-grass. Canadian ^mall Reed. 

<7«Zm 3 - 5 feet high. Leaves 1 foot long and about of an inch wide, flat, glaucous, 
slightly pubescent above, smoothish underneath. Awn scarcely equalling or exceeding 
the hairs. Glumes rough, about 1)4 lines long. 

Wet grounds : common north and west. 

Obs. This species is considered by some as an excellent and nutritious 
grass. According to Whitney's Geological Report, it is abundant and 
valued about Lake Superior ; the yield is said to be abundant, and it is 
greedily eaten by cattle. 

2. C. arena'ria, I^oth. Culm rigid, from long stout running root- 
stocks ; leaves soon involute ; glumes nearly equal, keeled ; palesB 
shorter than the glumes, the lower 5-nerved, mucronato or olDSCurely 
awned near the tip, surrounded by short hairs at the base ; panicle 
spike-like, contracted ; spikelets large. 

Sand Calamagrostis. Sea-Sand Reed. Beach Grass. Mat Grass. 



GEASS FA:iIILT. 



377 



Roi-sfach often runniEg for 20 - 30 feet. Culm 2 - S feet high. Leaves long, near half aa 
mch wide, attenuated to a long slender point, smooth and glaucor..?. Panicles 6-12 inchea 
iong, whitish, ver.v close and spike-like. Spikelets about >| an inch in length. 

Sea-coast, Maine" to New Jersey, and on the shores of Lakes Superior and Michigan. 
August. 

Obs. Althougli this grass has, properly speaking-, no agricultural use, 
yet it is in some localities a very important and useful one. Along the 
coast of Massachusetts it is planted to confine the blowing sands. The 
Federal Government has expended considerable sums in planting this 
grass for the protection of harbors, and much has been done by State 
and individual effort. An interesting account showing the important 
purpose a mere grass can serve, may be found in Flint's Treatise on 
Grasses and Forage Plants. * 

9. CT'XODOX, Rich. Bermuda Grass. 

[Greek, literally Dog's tooth; hut the reason is not obvious.] 

Spikes digitate, in pairs, or racemose. Spikelets with one perfect floret, 
. and sometimes with the subulate pedicel or abortive rudiment of a 
second superior floret. Glumes healed, awuless, nearly equal, the upper 
one exterior. Palex pointless and awnless ; the lower larger, boat- 
shaped. Stamens 3. Low, diffusely branched, creeping perennials with 
short flatfish leaves. 

i. C. Dac'tijlon, Pers. Spikes 3 - 5, digitate, spreading; palete longer 
than the glumes, glabrous, with a beardless bristle at the base of the 
inner one. 

FixGER Cyxodox. Bermuda Grass. Dog's-tooth Grass. 

Eoot perennial, fibrous, creeping (numerous slender rtiizomas). Culm procumbent, 
radicating, 6-12 or 1-5 inches long, terete, smooth. Leaves 1-2 or 4 inches long, acute^ 
Bome-.vhat distichous and rigid, slightly hairy and scabrous ; sheaths longer than the 
internodes, hairy; ligule beard-like. Spifois 3-5 (usually 4), 1-2 inches long ; rachis 
flexuose and angular, not winged. Scales obovate, half as long as the ovary. Stigmas dark 
purple. 

Loose sandy soils : Southern States : introduced? Fl. All summer (EU.). Fr. 

Obs. This I should judge to be a grass of doubtful value, and equiv- 
ocal character in agriculture, compared with our better species. Mr. 
Elliott gives the following account of it [under the name of Bigitaria 
Dadylon], as observed in South Carolina: — "AVe have two varieties 
of this plant, one coarser (perhaps a species) growing in damp soils, 
native ; the other, described above, said to be imported, a tender, deli- 
cate grass, growing over and binding the most arid and loose lands in 
our country, and apparently preferred by stock of all descriptions to 
every other grass. The cultivation of this grass on, the poor and exten- 
sive sand hills of our middle country would probably convert them into 
sheep-walks of great value ; but it grows in every soil, and no grass in 
close rich land is more formidable to the cultivator ; it must therefore 
be introduced with caution." Sir James Edward Smith, the Botanical 
Editor of Rees' Cyclopaedia, has the following remarks [Art. PAXicuif 



878 



WEEDS AXD USEFUL PLANTS. 



dactylon] in icference to the plant : This grass was perceived by Mr. 
Lambert to be no other than the Agrostis linearis of Koenig, Eetzius, 
and WiLLDENOw, — the Durva of the Hindoos, — which the late ^ir 
William Jones, in the fourth Tolume of the Asiatic Eesearches, has 
celebrated for the extraordinary beauty of its flowers, and its sweetness 
and nutritious quality as pasture for cattle. We cannot but remark 
what extraordinary celebrity is attached, every now and then, to one 
grass or other, and how their fame passes away ' like the morning cloud,' 
while the best graziers scarcely know, perhaps, better than their fat 
cattle, anything of the nature of the common, never-failing herbage to 
which they are both so much indebted." 



10. ELEUSI'NE, Gasrtn. Crab-grass. 

[From Eleusis ; where Ceres, the goddess of harvests, was worshiped.] 

Spikelets 2 - 6-flowered, with a terminal naked rudiment, closely imbri- 
cat<3d-spiked on one side of a flatfish rachis ; the spikes digitate or 
fascicled. Glumes unequal, shorter than the florets, keeled, pointless. 
Palece awnless and pointless, the lower ovate, keeled ; the upper smaller, 
2-keeled. Stamens 3. Pericarp (utric'e) containing a loose wrinkled 
seed. Annuals with low and spreading culms ; pale green. 

1. E. In'dica, Gaertn. Culm compressed, decumbent ; spikes 2-4 or 
6, linear, straight, digitate ; spikelets lance-ovate, about 5-flowered. 

Indian Eleusine. Dog's-tail Grass. Crow-foot, Crab or Yard Grass. 

Root annual. Culm 6-12 and 18 inches long, oblique or often nearly procnmbeut, 
smooth, branching at base, ieai'es 2-12 inches long, rather crowded and distichous at 
the base of the culm, linear, often inclined to be conduplicate, smooth or sparingly pilose ; 
sheaths loose, striate, glabrous, pilose at throat ; Kgule very short, truncate, minutely 
dentate. Spikes 2-4, sometimes 6 (rarely 1),1 or 2-4 inches long ; rachis compressed. 
Spikdets imbricated, smooth. Lower palea ovate-lanceolate, with a green keel, — the upper 
one a third shorter, with 2 keels. Caryopsis triangular-ovoid, dark brown, trans- 
versely rugose. 

Farm-yards, lanes and along foot-paths. Native of India. Fl. August -September 
Fr. September -October. 

Ohs. This grass is extensively naturalized, especially southward. 
It is usually to be seen in abundance in lanes and wood-yards, about 
farm-houses during the latter part of summer, — where it grows very 
thick, and forms a fine carpeting in spots which had been previously 
naked and muddy. Cattle and hogs are fond of it, — and Mr. Elliott 
commends it for hay ; but in this region it rarely grows in mowing 
grounds to any considerable extent. 

There is another species (E. Coracana, Gaertn.), which is "cultivated 
as corn, under the name of Natchenny, upon the Coromandel coast." 
I believe it is unknown in tliis couutrY,~and probably would not be 
worth introducing. 



GRASS FAiriLY. 



379 



11. DAC'TYLIS, L. Orchakd Gkass. 

[Greek, Dahtylos, a finger ; in reference to the form or size of the spikes.] 

SpiJcelets several-flowered, compressed, crowded in dense one-sided pank- 
alate clusters. Glumes unequal, acuminate, ciliate-scabrous on the keel. 
FalecB nearly equal, the 5 cerves of the lower one converging into an 
awn-like point. Stamens 3. Grain lance-oblong, acute at each end. 
Perennials with stout culms, keeled haves and pale-green clustered 
spikelets. 

1. D. glomera'ta, L. Panicle distinctly branched, rather secund ; 
spikelets 3 - 4-fiowered, in dense unilateral clusters at the ends of the 
branches. 

Clustered Dactylis. Orchard Grass. Cock's-foot Grass. 
Fr. Dactyle pelotonne. Germ. Gemeines Knauel-gras. 

Whole plant scabrous. J?oo; perennial. Ci<Z??i 2 - 3 or 4 feet high. Xrares 6-18 inches 
long, lance-linear, keeled, glaucous ; sheaths striate ; Ujide elongated, lacerate. Panich 
glaucous, contracted, racemose at summit, rather one-si-ded ; branches o-b, solitary, erect, 
distant, subdivided towards the extremity. Spikelets about 4-flowered, compressed, 
crowded in dense unilateral ovate or lance-oblong clusters at the ends of the branches 
Gluvies unequal, — the lower one narrower, membranaceous, the upper one 3-nervcd; 
scabrous on the keel. Lower palea scabrous, ciliate on the keel, which is extended into a 
cusp or short scabrous awn ; iipper palea acuminate, bifid at apex, ciliate on the two green 
•ceels, — the margins folded in so as to meet, embracing the stamens. Caryopsis lance- 
M)long, sub-triquetrous, acute at each end. 

Fields and orchards : cultivated. Native of Europe. Fl.lLny. i^r. Juno. 

Obs. This grass has been introduced and ciiltivated to a considerable 
extent. Our farmers, however, are not agreed upon its merits. Some 
condemn it as unworthy of culture either for pasture or hay ; while 
others set a high value on it for both. The fact seems to be, that it is 
inferior to Timothy (Phleum pratexse, L.) for hay ; yet it has the ad- 
vantage of the latter in being mature at the same time with clover, — 
with which both are usually cultivated. It is also less exhausting to 
the soil. But its great value is as a pasture, when sown sufficiently 
thick, which, however, it rarely is, — and hence is apt to form bunches 
or tussocks. It is of quick growth, and is speedily reproduced after 
being cut, or eaten down ; so much so that we may almost literally ap- 
ply to it the lines of Yirgil : — 

'• Et quantum longis carpent armenta diebus 
Exigua tantum gelidus ros nocte reponet." — Georg. 2. 201. 

" Cool dews restore beneath night's transient hours, 
All that the herd each five-long day devours." — Sotheby. 

This grass also possesses the additional advantage of thriving well in 
the shade of trees, and answ^ers a very good purpose in orchards, &c. 
The seed is usually sown in autumn, immediately after Wheat or Eye- 




Fig. 25S. Orchard Grass (Ifeictylis glomerata). 259. A spikelet. 



GE^SS FAMILY. 



381 



12. GLYCE'EIA, R. Brown. Manxa Grass. 

[Greek, GJylccros, sweet ; in allusion to the sweet taste of the seeds. 

Spikes several- or many-flowered ; florets oblong, early deciduous by the 
breaking up of the rachis into joints, leaving the persistent, unequal, 
1 - S-nerved glumes behind. Palece nearly equal, naked, somewhat char- 
taceous ; the lower one mostly 7-nerved, usually blunt and scarious at 
the apex, rounded on the back ; the upper one 2-keeled. Stamens 2-3. 
Stigmas plum-ose, the hairs dichotomous. Grain oblong, free. Perenni- 
al, smooth semi-aquatic grasses with creeping bases or root-stocks and 
sheaths usually nearly entire. 

1. Gr. flu'itans, -K. Spikelets linear, terete, pale, 7-13-flow- 

ered, appressed on the branches of the long racemose narrow panicle ; 

palese minutely scabrous ; the lower oblong, entire or obscurely 3-lobed, 

rather longier than the 2-toothed upper one. 

Floating Glyceria. Manna Grass. 

Fr. Manne de Prusse. Germ. Essbarei' Schwingel. 

Root perennial, creeping. Culmi-Q feet high, erector ascending, compressed, glabrous. 
Leaves 5-8 or 10 inches long, lance-linear, striate, scabrous on the margin and upper sur- 
face ; sheaths nerved, smooth ; Ugule very large, oblong, membranaceous, acute or some- 
times obtuse. Panicle slender, 12-15 inches long, usually partly concealed in the sheath 
of the upper leaf, — the branches mostly simple. Spikelets about an inch long, nearly 
sessile, racemose on the brunches and appressed. Glumes membranaceous, nerveless. 
Upper palea hlaut at apex, — the margins folded in, and a green keel at each apparent 
border. Carynpsis oblong, sulcate on the upper side. 

Wet low grounds, margins of shallow pools, &c. Fl. June. Fr. July. 

Obs. This stout semi-aquatic grass is common to both hemispheres. 
The seeds have a sweetish taste, and in some parts of the old world,— 
where they are known by the name of Manna Seeds— they are used by 
the poorer peasantry in making soups and gruels. In the United States 
the country people, as yet, are happily ignorant of all such expedients, 
and will long continue so, if they have industry enough to cultivate 
more valuable grains. The herbage of this plant is eaten by stock ; 
but it is so much confined to wet localities that it is scarcely entitled 
to be enumerated among the grasses interesting to American farmers. 

13. PO'A, L. Meadow-Grass. 

[An ancient Greek name for herbage or pasture.] 

Spikelets ovate or oblong, compressed, few- or several-flowered. Glumes 
mostly shorter than the florets ; the lower ones smaller. Lower palea 
mcmbranaceo-herbaceous with a scarious margin, keeled or convex, 
pointless, 5-nerved (the intermediate nerves obscure or obsolete), the 
principal nerves with cobweb-like wQol at their base ; upper paU.a mem- 
branaceous, 2-keeled. Stamens 2-3. Stigmas simply plumose. Groin 
oblong, free. Culms casspitose ; the leaves smooth, usually flat and soft 

* Root annual: branches cf the short panicle single or in paii s. 



382 



WEEDS ASD L6EFUI. I'LA^^TS. 



1. P. AN NUA, L. Culms oblique, subcorapressed ; leaves rather short ; 
panicle subsecuud ; spikelets 3 - 7-flowercd, on short pedicels, rather 
crowded. 

Annual Foa. Dwarf, or Early Meadow-Grass. 
Fr. Paturin annuel. Germ. Jaehrigcs Eispengras. 

Root annual. Culms csespitose, 3-6 or 8 inches long, smooth, geniculate, oblique at 
base, or often nearly procumbent. Leaves 1-3 inches in length, sublinear, acute, keeled, 
smooth ; sheaths loose, smooth ; ligule oblong, dentate. Panicle sometimes rather sccund, 
the branches often solitary, subdivided. Spikelets rather crowded on the divisions of tho 
branches, 3 or 4-6- (very often 3-) flowered, (rtitwi^s unequal, acuminate, with scarious 
raargins. Loiver palm delicately more or less hairy on the nerves below. 

Cultivated grounds, pastures, along foot-patlis, &c. : introduced. Native ol Europe. Fl. 
April -Sept. Fr. June -Oct. 

Ohs. This little species — which was probably introduced from Europe 
—comes forward early in the spring', — and what little pasture i^ affords 
13 tolerably acceptable to stock ; but it is far inferior in value and im- 
portance to either of the following. 

Root perennial ; panicle open, its branches in Jives; spikelets all dis- 
tinctly pedicelled, acute, sligldly flattened. 

2. P. serot'ina, Ehrhart. Culms erect terete ; leaves linear ; ligules 
elongated; spikelets 2-4-flowered; flo^-ers acutish, often tinged with 
purple. 

Late Poa. Fowl Meadow-Grass. False Red-top. 

Culm 2-3 feet high. Panicle 6-10 inches lop.g. Palece slightly hairy at the base. 
Wet meadows • northward. July -Aug. 

Obs. This is considered a highly valuable grass for wet meadows, and 
is common in New England and along the northern States to Lake 
Superior. 

^ * * Root perennial ; panicle with the flattened spikelets crowded on the 
branches, mostly short-pedicelled, sometimes almost sessile. 

3. P. trivia'lis, L. Culm and sheaths somewhat scabrous ; ligule 
elongated, acute ; spikelets ovate, 2 - 3-flowered, — the florets slightly 
villous at base. 

Trivial Poa. Eough Meadow-Grass. 

Root perennial. Culm 1-2 or 3 feet high, subterete or slightly ancipital, often ilechued 
at base, geniculate, and stoloniferous, somewhat scabrous retrorsely. Leaves 2 or 3-6 
or 8 inches long, lance-linear (those of the root, or suckers, long and narrow), acute or 
acuminate, slightly scabrous on the margin ; sheaths striate-nerved, scabrous when rubbed- 
UDwards ; ligule much elongated, scarious and whitish. Panicle loose, expanding, — the 
branches serai-verticillate m about fives, sharply scabrous. Spikelets usually 2- (some- 
times 3-) flowered. Glumes scabrous on the kee), the lower one rather snorter, very 
acute, the upper one 3-nerved, with a scarious margin. Palece unequal, nearly smootb 
or very slightly villous at base, the lower one longSr, 5-nerved, scarious at apex. 

Moist low grounds, meadows, and woodlands : introduced? Fl. June. Fi: July. 

Obs. This species (perhaps a foreigner) is frequent in moist pastures 
and meadows,— and affords a a'ood forage, both pasture and hay. It 



GEASS FAMILY. 



383 



has much g-cneral resemblance to the following species (P. pratensis). 
whcD growing in open grounds ; but is decidedly inferior in value, — and 
may be readily distinguished from it, by the elongated ligule and re- 
trorsely scabrous sheaths and culms. In woodlands, it is often a weak 
straggling plant. 

4. P. praten'sis, L. Culm and sheaths smooth ; ligule short, truncate ; 
panicle somewhat crowded, regular, finally spreading ; spikelets ovate, 
acute, 3 - 5-flowered ; florets connected by a villous web. 

Meadow Poa. Spear Grass. Green Grass. Smooth Meadow-Grass. 

Fr. Paturin des Pres. Germ. Vieh-gras. Wiesen Rispen-grass. 

Boot perennial, creeping. Plant smooth. Culm erect, 1-2 or 3 feet high, slender, 
terete. Radical leaves often very numerous, and long (1-2 feet or more in length, in 
good soils), scarcely a line wide and exactly linear, terminating abruptly in a boat-shaped 
or keeled point, deep green, slightly scabrous on the margin ; the culm leaves shorter than 
the striate-nerved glabrous sheaths ; ligule scarious, short, obtuse, often crenate-dentato 
PantcZe at first rather crowded, at length expanding and pyramidal, the branches semi- 
verticillate, 3-5 from a node, flexuose and nearly smooth. Spikelets pedicellate, a little 
crowded on the branches ; 2 or 3 - 5-flowered ; florets acute, connected at base by cobweb- 
like hairs. Glumes a little unequal, compressed, keeled, sharply acuminate. Loxcer palea 
somewhat compressed, acute, 5-aervcd, the upper one acuminate, slightly scabrous on the 
two keels. 

Fields, meadows, and woodlands : introduced? J'?. May -June. Fr. July. 

Ohs. This species varies considerably, in size and appearance, when 
growing in different soils and situations. In our best soils, the radical 
•eaves are very long and luxuriant, — when it is known by the name of 
" Green Grass." In Kentucky, it is commonly called " Blue Grass,"— a 
name which properly belongs to the following species (P, compressa, 
L.). It is the profusion of the nutritious radical leaves, which consti- 
tutes the chief excellence of this grass. It is, indeed, as Muhlenberg 
terms it, " optimum pabulum " — being decidedly the most valuable of all 
the grasses known in our pastures. It has not been found necessary, in 
Pennsylvania (of latter years, at least), to cultivate it, by sowing the 
seed ; for when the land is duly prepared by lime and manure, it soon 
takes possession of the soil — or comes in, as the farmers term it, — and 
supersedes the artificial grasses. The prevalence, therefore, and luxuriant 
growth of this grass, is one of the best evidences of the land being in 
good condition, and well managed. In very poor land, it deteriorates 
so much that it w^ould scarcely he recognized as the same plant. The 
slender culms, of this species, afford an excellent material for the manu- 
facture of the finer kinds of Leghorn hats. 

5. P. COmpres'sa, L. Culm oblique or declined at base, much com- 
pressed ; panicle contracted, somewhat secund ; spikelets oblong-ovate, 
3 - 6-flowered ; florets connected by a villous web. 

COMPEESSED PoA. Blue Grass. Wire Grass. Flat-stalked Meadow-Grass 

Fr. Paturin applati. Germ. Rehwasen. 

Rod perennial, creeping (nuincrous branching rUzcmas), Plant smooth with rathei 



WEEDS AND USEFUL PLAXTS. 




few and sli&rt radical leaves. Culm 9 -IS inclics long, often procumbent a'ld raaicat^ng 
at base. Leaves 2 ovo-b or 6 inches long, linear, keeled, roughish near the end j and 



Fi6. 260. Common Meadow-Grass (Poa pratensis). 261. A spikclet. 262, A pistJ 
removed Trom the paJeae, showing the scales at the base of the ovary. 



•-.-VEAS3 FAMILY. 



385 



B'ith the culm of a bluish-grcoa or giri-icous hue : sJieaihs rather loose, striate ; Ivjide 
short, obtuse. Panicle conirr.cTed. at first almost spicate and nither secund, finaily a 
hltle expanding ; the branches by twos and threes, short, somewhat flexuose and scabrou.s. 
Spikdcts generally 5- 6-fiowered. subsessile. Glumes nearly equal, acute, serruiite on 
the keel. ioiferjjaZ^a- minutely pubescent, often dark purple near the apex, with a nar- 
row white scarious margin ; upper palea scabrous on the two keels. Caryopsis oblong, 
reddish-brown. 
Upland fields and pastures. Fl. June. Fr. July. 

Obs. This species — which, thong-h rarely if ever cultivated, yet finds 
its way into most pastures — is not held in so high estimation, by our 
farmers, as the one next preceding. — and certainly falls far short of it, 
in the quantity of herbage afforded ; but that which is afibrded is, in my 
opinion, even more nutritious. Cows which feed on it. yield the richest 
milk, and finest butter. The creeping roots (or rhizoma?) are remarkably 
tenacious of life, — and in consequence, are sometimes rather troublesome, 
in cultivated grounds, among other crops ; but, on the v\-hole. it is an 
excellent grass — especially in dairy and sheep pastures. It seems rather 
probable that this — as well as all the preceding species — has been intro- 
duced from Europe, although they are found in some situations where 
they appear to be indigenous. 

14 FESTU'OA, L. Fescue-Geass. 

pile ancient Latin name.] 

Spikelets rather dry and harsh, 3-many-fiowered, panicled or racemose ; 
fiords not cobwebby at base. Glumes unequal, mostly keeled, shorter 
than the florets. Lower paka subcoriaceous, convex on the back, not 
scariously margined, more or less 3 - 5-nerved, acute, pointed, often bristle- 
awned ; the I'.pper one adhering to the grain in most of the species, but 
free in the one mentioned here. Stamens mostly 3. 

1. F. ela'tior, L. Panicle contracted before and after flowering, 
branches short : spikelets crowded, 5 - 10-flowered ; the florets rather re- 
mote, oblong-lanceolate, awnless. 

Taller Festuca. Tall Fescue. ^leadow Fescue. 

Plant glabrous. J?oc< perennial. Culm 2-3 feet high. Leave? 4-6 or 8 inches long 
(the radiral lca:es numerous and longer), lance-linear, acuminate, nerved, shining be- 
neath, scabrous on the margin ; shea'hs nerved ; liffule very short or obsolete. FanicU 
4-6 or ^ inches long, somewhat secund, mostly erect, the branches generally single, but 



o:>:--^ ; .^j/i'ifcdZ.jts about 7-Cowered, racemose on the branches, often purplish. 

G'i-. ' - "le lower one keeled, the upper one larger, 3-nerved, scarious on the 

mr,; _ !':a obscurely 5-nerved, somewhat acute but not acuminate normucro- 

uat-' ; white, with 2 green keels, and the margins doubled or folded in. 

- .elds and meadows, road-sides, &c. : introduced. Native of Europe. 



Obs. This is a valuable grass — commonly mingled with Poa Dra^- 
tensis, L., in good soils ; but easily distinguished from that plant." by 
its tapering slender-pointed shining leaves. It is extensively naturalized 
in the middle and northern States ; and although I have never known it 
to be cultivated, it soon finds its wav into all rich pasture lacds, There 
IT 



386 



WEEDS AND USEiJL PLAXTS. 



soera to be no good characters to distinguisli this from F. praten'sis, 
Huds. We have a few native species of Festuca, — but they are of little 
or no value in Agriculture — and some of them are indicative of a poor 
soil. 

15. BRO'MUS, L. Brome Grass. 

[Greek, Broma, food ; Bromos was an ancient name for oats.] 

S'^5//:c/efs 5 -many-fiowered in a loose panicle. Glumes unequal, mem- 
branaceous ; the upper 3 - 9-nerved, the lower 1 - 5-nerved. Loiver palea 
convex on the back, 5 - 9-nerved, avjned from below the mostly 2-cleft 
apex. Upper palea pectinate-ciliate on the two keels, finally adhering 
to the groove of the linear-oblong grain. Stamens 3. Coarse grasses 
?/ith large spikelets which are finally nodding. 

1. B. secaU'nus, L. Panicle spreading, even in fruit ; 
spikelets ovate-oblong, 8- 10-flowered ; florets pubescent ; 
awn short, sometimes very short or none. 

Eye Bromus. Cheat. Chess. Brome Grass. 

Ft. Brome Seigle. Germ. Roggen-Trespe. Span. Bromo. 

Boot annual. Cv.lni 3-4 feet high , smooth. Leaves 6-12 inches 
long, lance-liucar, nerved, scabrous and pilose on the upper surface ; 
sheaths nerved, smooth ; ligule oblong, retuse, laciniate-deutate. Pun- 
idc 4-6 or 8 inches long, the branches semi-verticillate, nearly simple, 
scabrous and pubescent. Florets a httle remote at base, so as to ap« 
pear distinct on the flexuose rachis. Lower glume shorter, 5-nerved, 
sometimes mucronate, — the upper one 7-nerved, obtuse or emarginate. 
Lower palea obscurely 7-nerved, slightly pubescent near the apex, 
— the aivn mostlj^ shorter than the floret, flexuose (sometimes want- 
ing, or a mere rudiment) ; upj)er palea linear, awnless, pectinatc-ciliatc on the keel 
at each border, the scarious margins being folded in. Caryopsis closely embraced by the 
lower palea, grooved on the sides with the upper palea doubled in the groove, and ad- 
herent. 

Cultivated grounds, chiefly among wheat and rye : introduced. Native of Europe. Fl. 
June. Fr. July. 

Obs. This foreigner is a well-known pest among our crops of Wheat 
and Rye, — and occasionally appears in the same fields, for a year or two, 
after the grain crop ; but being an annual, it is soon choked out by the 
perennial grasses. — and the fallen seeds remain, like myriads of others, 
until the ground is again broken up, or put in a favorable state for 
their developement. The best preventive of this and all similar evils, in 
the grain-field, is to sow none but good clean seed. 

Among the curious vulgar errors which yet infest the minds of credu- 
lous and careless observers of natural phenomena, may be mentioned the 
firm belief of many of our farmers (some of them, too, good practical 
farmers), that this troublesome grass is nothing more than an accidental 
variety, or casual form, of degenerate Wheat, — produced by some un- 
toward condition of the soil, or unpropitious season, or some organic 




Fig. 263. A spikelct of Chess or Cheat (Bromus secaliaus}. 



GRASS FAMILY. 



387 



injury : — though it must be admitted, I think, by the most inveterate 
defender of that faith, that in undergoing the metamorphosis, the plant 
is surprisingly uniform in its vagaries, in always assuming the exact 
structure and character of Bromus ! 

A similar hallucination has long prevailed among the peasantry of 
Europe, in relation to this supposed change of character in the Grasses. 
But, in the Old World, they were even more extravagant than with us ; 
for they believed that Wheat underwent sundry transmutations, — hrst 
changing to Rye — then to Barley — then to Bromus, — and finally from 
Bromus to Oats ! I believe the most credulous of our countrymen have 
not been able, as yet, to come up with their transatlantic brethren, in 
this matter. This grass has been cultivated within a few years as 
Willard's Bromus, and the seed sold at a high price. The farmers 
found that they not only did not get a valuable grass, but were really 
propagating a worthless and pernicious weed, being thus doubly cheated. 

2. B. racemo'sus, L. Panicle erect, contracted in fruit ; lower palea 
decidedly exceeding the upper, bearing an awn of its own length. 

Racemed Bromus. Upright Chess. Smooth Brome Grass. 

Stem more slon^Ier than in chess. Shealhs hairy, in other respects resembling: it. Ac- 
cording to Mr. Flint, the most reliable distinction between this and chess, (for which it is 
often mistaken,) is that the summit of the large glume reaches midway between the sum- 
mit and the base of the third Jioret in the spikelet ; while in chess it only comes to the 
middle of the second floret. 

Common in grain helds. Native of Europe. June. 

Ohs. This is a worthless species found in grain fields, as is B. mollis, 
which resembles the preceding, but has long awned flowers which, as 
also the leaves, are downy, and the spikelets are closely imbricated. By 
some, the two are considered as forms of the same species. There are 
two native species of the genus, of no agricultural value. 

16. PHRAGMI'TES, Trin. Reed. 

[Greek, Phragmcs, a partition o rhedge ; from the use said to be made of it.] 

Spikelets 3 - 7-flowered ; ^orefs distichous, rather distant, not hairy at 
base, — the lowest one neuter or with a single stamen, the others perfect ; 
rachis clothed with long silky hairs. Glumes keeled, acute, membrana- 
ceous, shorter than the florets, very unequal. Palece membranaceous, the 
lower one thrice the length of the upper, narrow-subulate — the upper 
one 2-keeled. Stamens 3. Grain free. Peremiial grasses with tall 
simple culms, broad leaves and large terminal panicles. 

1. P. commu'ilis, Trin. Panicle large, loosely expanded ; spikelets 
3 - 5-flowered. 

Common Phragmites. Reed Grass. 

Ft. Roseau a balais. Germ. Gemeines Rohr. Span. Cana. 

C^Zm 8-12 feet high, and often an inch or more in diameter at base, nodose, toreto 
glabrous. Leaves 1-2 feet long, and about 2 inches wide at base, linear-lanceolate, attenu 



888 



WEEDS AXD CSEFUL PLA^TTS 



ated at apex, glaucous, scabrous on the margin . sheaiTis closely emt/acing tli6 cnha, 
smooth ; liguJe very short, pilose or fimbriate. Panicle terminal, large, — ^the branches 
smoothish, long, slender, semi-verticillate, with a tuft of soft hairs at base. SpUcdets 
lance-linear, erect, pedunculate, 3-5- (mostly 3-) flowered. Low^t fiord, staminate. ses- 
sile, naked at base ; upper fiords pedicellate, — the j>edicek finally clothed with loner white 
silky hairs which are nearly as long as the florets (these hairs scarcely perceptible" on the 
young panicle). Pa7ecE very unequal,— the lower one with a long -slender acumination, 
which is involute, resembling an awn. 
Margins of swamps and swampy streams. Fl. August. Fr. September. 

Ohs. This grass appears to he indigenous in both hemispheres. It 
possesses but little agricultural interest ; j-et, being so remarkably large 
(rivalling Indian Corn in size), I have concluded to give it a place here. 

17. ARUXDIXA'EIA, Mx. Caxe. 

[Xams formed from Arundo, a reed.] 

SpiJcelets compressed, 5 - 14-fio^vercd ; florets somewhat separated on the 
jointed rachis. Glumes membranaceous, very small, the lower one 
smaller than the upper. FahcE herbaceous, or somewhat membranaceous ; 
the lower convex on the back, not keeled, mucronate or bristle-pointed. 
Scales 3, longer than the ovary. Stamens 3. Grain oblong, free. Tall 
arborescent or shrubby grosses, simple or fasclculately branched : spike- 
lets in panicles or racemes, polygamciis. 

1. A. macrosper'ma, Leaves linear-lanceolate, pubescent beneath ; 
panicle simple ; spikelets few, very large. 

Long or Large-seeded Arui\'Dinaria. Cane. 

Eoot perennial, CESspitose (creeping rhizomas). Culm S-15 feet high (30 feet or more 
in the gigantic variety), terete, glabrous, fistular, rigid, branching towards the summit, — 
the branches distichous. Leaves distichous, lanceolate, large, flat, slightly acuminate, pubes- 
cent on the under sm-face ; sheaths much longer than the internodcs, marcesceiit, — the 
ihroat contracted ; ligule bristly. Panicle simple, — ^the peduncles about an inch long, 
pubescent. Spikelds 1-3 inches in length. 

Rich, occasionally inundated, soils : South- Western States. Fl. March -April. Fr. 

Ohs. Having only seen the small variety of this species, as it grows in 
the vicinity of the Dismal Swamp, Virginia, — I cannot speak, from per- 
sonal observation, of the arborescent variety which forms the celebrated 
Cane brakes of the Mississippi region. Although this remarkable grass 
has but little connection with Agriculture, I have supposed it might be 
entitled to a brief notice ; for which I am indebted to Mr. Elliotts 
valuable sketch of the Botany of South Carohna and Georgia. The 
culms of this species are well known from their common use as angling 
rods. 

18. LO'LIUM, L. Darxel. 

[The ancient Latin name.] 

Spikelets m-any-flowered, solitary on each joint of the continuous rachis, 
the edge of the spikelets placed towards the rachis. Glumes (except at 



GRASS FAMILY. 



38D 



the terminal spikelet) only one and that on the outer side : — othciiwise 
much resembling Triticum. 

1. L. peren'ne, L. Spikelets compressed, linear-lanceolate, longer than 
the glumes, about 7-flowered, — the florets mostly awuless. 
Perennial LoLimr. Eay-grass, or Eye-grass. Darnel. 
Fr. Ivraie vivace. Germ. Ausdauernder Lolch. Span. Joyo. 

2^oo^ perennial, creeping. C«Zm 1 -2 feet high, smooth. Leaves A -8 or 10 inches long, 
lance-linear, shining green, smooth, somewhat' scabrous near the end; s/ieai/is striate, 
glabrous ; Ugule truncate. *5>iA-e about 6 inches long, — the rachis flcxuose, channelled or 
concave opposite the spilcolcts. Spikdeis 12-18 or 20, a httle distant, alternately on op- 
posite sides of, and with their edges to, the rachis. Glimes one to each spikelet (except 
the terminal one), lance-linear, acute, nerved, resembling a short rigid leaf. Lower paUa 
rather obtuse, obscurely 5-nerved ; upper jpalea a little longer, ciliate-serrulate on the two 
prominent keels. 

ileadow banks and grass lots : introduced. Native of Europe. Fl. June. Fr. July. 

065. This grass — which seems to be much esteemed in Europe — has 
been partially introduced into this country, and has become naturalized 
in many places, — though I believe it has been but little cultivated, by 
our farmers. It affords a valuable pasture where the soil is rich, — iu 
such situations producing radical leaves in great luxuriance ; and makes 
a handsome sward for yards and lawns. 

There is another species in Europe, (L. temulentum, L., supposed to 
be the " infelix Lolium," of YirCxIL — the " Darnel," of the English), — of 
which the seeds are said to be somewhat poisonous. If so, it is the only 
instance known, in all the Graminea?, iu which the sound seeds are of 
that character. 

The Italian Ray Grass has been extensively distributed through the 
agency of the Patent Office, and is probably a variety of the above or 
some other species ; great superiority is claimed for it in Europe, but 
not enough is known of it, in our climate, to decide whether it is equal 
to the grasses already m cultivation. 

19. TRIT'ICUM, L. Wheat. 

[Latin, triius, a rubbing or grinding ; the grain being so treated.] 

Spikelets 3 - several-flowered, compressed, with the fiat .s?(/e against the 
rachis. Glumes nearly equal and opposite. Lovjer palea very like the 
glumes, convex, awned or merely mucronate ; the upper one flat, bristly- 
ciliate on the 2 keels, free or adherent to the groove of the grain. 
Stamens 3. Annuals or perennials, the former furnishing bread-corn. 

* Annual : spike ^L-sided : glumes ventricose, obtuse. (Teue Wheat.) 
1. T. vulga're, Vill. Spike imbricated, with a tough rachis ; spikelets 
4 - 5-flowered, rather crowded, broad-ovate, obtuse ; glumes ventricose, 
mucronate, compressed at apex ; lower palea awned, mucronate, or awa- 
less ; grain free. 

Common Triticum. Wheat, Winter Wheat. Spring Wheat. 
Fr. Jje Fromeut. Ble. Germ. Gemeiner Waizen. Span. Trigo. 



390 



WEEDS AND USEFUL PLANTS. 



Root SLunntil. Culm 2 or 3-5 feet high, terete, smooth, — the nodes striate, puheucent, 
ieaues 6-15 inches long, lance-linear, nerved smooth or slightly scabrous on the tipper 
surface; s7ieai/is nerved, smooth ; Zi^'wZe truncate, dentate, .^jn'ifce 3-5 inches long, dense, 
4-sided, mostly simple, finally nodding ; racMs compressed, broad, hirsute on the margin. 
>S)jiMeZs sessile, broad, compressed at apex. Glumes ventricose, boat-shaped at apex. 
Florets usually 3 fertile and 2 abortive, — the penultimate one pistillate, the terminal one 
neutral and pedicellate. Palece nearly equal, — the lower one ventricose, avrnedor mucro- 
nate,the upper one folded, ciliate on the two keels. (7ar2/02)S-is ovoid-oblong, sulcate on 
the upper side, j^ellowish or brown. 

Fields : cultivated. Native country uncertain, — perhaps Persia. Fl. June. Fr. July. 

Ohs. Although it has been estimated that more human beings are 
nourished by Rice, than by any other grain, — yet it is probable that 
Wheat is the most intrinsically valuable of all the Cerealia, or grain- 
bearing grasses. It is to this plant that civilized man — especially in the 
temperate latitudes — is emphatically indebted for his bread ; and it is 
consequently a prominent object of attention with the practical agricul- 
turist. The variety, called " Spring Wheat," is occasionally, but rarely, 
cultivated in this country, — while the " Winter Wheat " is cultivated 
everywhere, throughout the northern, middle, and western States. A 
plant that has been so long under culture, in almost every kind of soil 
and climate, of course presents specimens of various character, and 
aspect ; — such as bearded, beardless, red-chaff, white-chaff, &c., and the 
color of the grain also, varies from whitish, or yellowish, to brown. 
These fixed characters, or permanent varieties of the plant (called races 
by the Botanists), have all, in their turn, been favorites with the farm- 
ers, — according as they were best adapted to the market, or the place 
of growth — or best resisted the ravages of the " Hessian fly." A bearded 
variety, with a brown grain, called " Mediterranean Wheat," is the favor- 
ite one in some localities. In remarking on the character of the grain, 
M'CuLLOCH says, " the finest samples of Wheat are small in the berry 
(caryopsis), thin skinned, fresh, plump, and bright, slipping readiij' 
through the fingers." 

One species of Triticum (T. turgidum, L) is said to be cultivated in 
Italy, solely for the manufacture of Leghorn or straw hats. 

Perennials: sriihcs mcsthj 2-ranlced: glumes lanceolate or linear-ohhng. 
often acuminate. 

2. T. re' pens, L. Ehizomas creeping; spikelets 4-8-flowered, awu 
none, or not more than half the length of the floret ; leaves flat- 
Creeping Triticum. Couch-grass. Quitch-grass. 
Fr. Chien-dent. Germ. Gemeiue Quecke. 

PmoI perennial,— a white, jointed, creeping rMzoma. Culm about 2 feet high, smooth. 
Leaves 4-8 or 12 inches long, lance-linear, nerved, scabrous and somewhat pilose on 
the upper surface ; sheatJis nerved, smooth; Ugule short, truncate. Spike 3-5 inches 
long; rachis flexuose, compressed, scabrous on the margin. Glumes keeled, strongly 
nerved, roughish,— the outer margin broader. J'toreis alternate, a httle distant. Lower 
palea 5-nerved, mucronate, smooth ; upper 2>alea obtuse, ciliate-serrate on the two keels. 

Meadows, pasture lots, &c.: introduced. Native of Europe. Fl.5n\j. J=V. August. 

Ohs. This species— which is quite distinct in habit from the geua'-n« 



GRASS FAIEILY. 39 1 

Wliaat — ^lias found its vrvij into some districts of our country ; and is a 
troublesome pest in ciiltiTated grounds, when fully introduced,— by 
reason of the great tenacity of life in its rhizomas, or creeping subter- 
ranean stems. In some localities this may afford an acceptable paatur- 




Fig. 264. Couch- or Quitch-Grats (Triticum repefUf). 



392 



WEEDS A^Q^D USEFUL PLAXTS. 



age — wnere other grasses will not tlirive — but in the nortliern Stat s \i 
is considered desirable to keep our farms as clear of it "as possible. 

20. SEOA'LB, L. Rye. 

[Latin, sacare, to cut ; or perhaps from the Celtic, Sega, a sickle] 

Spilcelels 2-flowered, — arranged as in Triticura. Glumes sub-opposite, 
keeled. Lowe)- palca awned at apex, keeled, with unequal sides— the 
outer side broader and thicker ; upper palca shorter, 2-keeled. Scales 2, 
entire, ciliate. Stamens 3. Grain free, hairy at summit. A tall an- 
nual, ])luish-glaucous grass with long-awuedj?o re?s. 
1. S. cerea'le, L. Spikes compressed, linear; glumes subulate, sca- 
brous ; palese smooth, — the lower one bristly-ciliate on the keel and ex- 
terior margin. 

Harvest Secale. Rye. Common Rye. 

Fr. Le Seigle. Germ. Gemeiner Roggen. Span. Centeuo. 

CtiZ?n 4-6 feet high, glabrous, hairy near the spike. Leaves 6-18 inches long, lance 
linear, smooth beneath, roughish above and on the margin, glaucous ; sheaths membrana- 
ceous, nerved, smooth ; ligule short, dentate. Spike 4-6 inches long, 2-sided and flattish, 
linear. Spikelets mostly 2-flowered, with aa awn-like rudiment of a third. Glumes a little 
distant from the florets, opposite, scabrous, bristly-pilose at base. Lower xmlea ventricose, 
acuminate, compressed at apex, 5-nerved, terminating in a long scabrous awn ; Iceel and 
exterior margin bristly-ciliate, — the inner margin not ciliate, and the nerves on that side 
less conspicuous ; upper pal ea lanceolate, acuminate, often bifid at apex, sparingly ciliate 
on the 2 keels. Grain oblong, sub-cylindrical, grooved on the upper side, hairy at sum- 
mit ; dusky brown. 

Fields : cultivated. Native of the East. Fl. June. Fr. July. 

Obs. This cereal grass seems to do best in light sandy soils. The grain 
in such soils is of a better quality, and affords a whiter flour. Rye 
comes nearer to Wheat, in bread-making qualities, than any other 
grain, — but is, nevertheless, decidedly inferior to it. It is the principal 
bread-corn of the northern parts of Europe — especially of Russia and 
Germany. 

The seed is subject — particularly in wet seasons — to become diseased, 
and enlarged, — producing what is called Ergot, or spurred Rye. This 
diseased grain is injurious to health, when made into bread ; but has 
been found to possess important medical properties, in certain cases, 
when judiciously administered. 

21. HOR'DEUM, L. Barley. 

[.in ancient Latin name ; of obscure derivation.] 

Spikelets l-flovvcred, with a subulate rudiment of a second floret — ar- 
ranged in threes at the joints of the rachis, the lateral ones mostly abor- 
tive. Glumes lance-linear, flat, rigid, subulate-awned, collateral in front 
of the spikelets, 6 in number, forming a kind of involucre. Palece her- 
baceous, — the lower one concave, produced into a long awn at apex. 
Stamens 3. Grain hairy at summit, oblong, sulcate on the upper or 
inner side, adherent to the palcae, or rarely free. 



GEA5S FAoHLT. 



393 



1. H. tulga'ee.. L. Spikelets all fertile, awEed, — the florets arranged 
80 as to form a nearly four- (or somewhat 6-) sided spike. 

Common Hoedeum. Barley. Four-rowed Barler. 

Fr. Orge commmie. Germ. Gremeine Gerste. Span. Cebada. 

Boot annaaL Culm 2-3 feet high, smooth. Leaves 6-15 inches long, lance-linear, 
keeled, striata, snioothish ; sheaihs nerved, smooth, auriculate at throat ; liguleyevy short. 
Spike about 3 inches long, rather thick and somewhat 4-sided ; rac/tis compressed, smooth, 
pubescent on the margin. 

Fields : cultivated. Native of Sicily and Tartary. Fl. May. Fr. June. 

Obs. The temate spikelets of this species being all fertile, the spike 
often assumes somewhat of a sis-sided appearance ; and I understand 
that in "Western Xew-York — the great Barley region of this country — 
it is usually called Six-rowed Barley. — though that name wotild seem 
more properly to belong to another nearly allied species (H. hexastichum, 
X.) — if, indeed, it be really distinct. This and the following species are 
cultivated extensively in the middle and northern States — and almost 
exclusively for the Breweries. The grain is rarely given to cattle. — and 
Barley bread is unknown in the United States. The plant requires a 
good soil. — and hence serves as a kind of index to the C|uality cf the 
farms in Pennsylvania : the fallow crop on good land being generally 
Barley. — while the occupants of a poor soil have to be content with a 
crop of Oats. 

2. H. Dis'iiCHrM, L. Lateral spike'.ets sterile, awnless, — the fertile 
ones awned, distichous or forming a two-sided spike. 

Distichous HoRDEinr. Two-rowed Barley. 

Root annual. Culm 2-3 feet high, smooth. Leaves 6-15 inches long, lance-linear, 
nerved, scabrous on the upper s-arface ; sfieatlu nerved, smooth, with 2 lanceolate, auricu- 
late appendages at throat ; Ugule short,' truncate. Spike 3-4 inches long, compressed or 
ancipital. linear ; rachis flatted, smooth, hirsute on the margin. 

Native' of Tartary. FL June. Fr. July. 

Obs. This species is something later than the preceding, in coming to 
maturity ; and on that account is preferred by many farmers in Penn- 
sylvania, — as it interferes less with their Hay crops. It also stands bet- 
ter than the preceding, after it is ripe, — and yields a heavier grain — 
though not a greater quantity. The seed, of both species, is usually 
sown (in Pennsylvania) about the last of March. 

22. AYE'XA, L. Oat. 

[The classical Latin name.] 

SpiMets 2 - many-flowered in a loose, large and somewhat nodding pani- 
cle ; the florets herbaceo-chartaceous, of a firmer texture than the glumes, 
somewhat distant ; the terminal one abortive. Glumes somewhat un- 
equal, loose and membranaceous. Lowsr palei convex on the back, 5 - 
9-nerved, with a bent or twisted aicn (proceeding from the middle nerve 
17^ 



394 



WEEDS AND USEFUL PLANTS. 



only) on the hack. Stamens 3. Grain oblong, grooved on the upper 
side, hairy at summit, free but invested by the upper palea. 

1. A. sATi'vA, Z. Panicle regular; spikelets 2-flowered, pendulous; 
florets shorter thai: the glumes, naked at base. 

Cultivated Avena. Oats. Common Oats. 

Fr. Avoine cultivee. Germ. Gemeiner Hafer. Span. Avena. 




Root annual. Culm 2-4 feet high, smooth. Leaves 6-15 inches long, lance-linear, 
uerved scabrous ; sTieai/is striate, smooth, rather loose; Ugule lacerate. Panicle loose, 
somewhat nodding, — the spikelets all pedunculate, pendulous. Lower -floret mostly awned 
on the back ; upper floret awnless, with a pedicel at the base of the upper palea, bearing at 
its summit membranaceous rudiments of a third floret. Grain closely invested by the 
smoothish shining sub-cartilaginous palese. 

Fields : cultivated as a fallow crop. F-l. J u.\y. i?V. August. 

Obs. The native country of this plant — as of most of our cultivated 
grains — seems to be somewhat uncertain, — though this one is said to 
have been found native in the island of Juan Fernandez. Oats are ex- 



FiG. 165. A spike of 2 rov»«.d R-^rley (Hordeum distichum). 266. A cluster of 3 spike- 
letSj thv, ce.-tra: <)nc f(k, \.\ tu > i\?o lateral ones sterile. 



GEASS FAMILY. 



S95 



tensiveiy cultivated, in this country,— chiefly as food for horses. Dr. 
JoHxsox took occasion, in compiling his Dictionary, to fling a sarcasn? 
at the Scotch, by defining oats to be the food of horses in England, and 
of men in Scotland — as if the effects of climate were a fit subject on 
which to taunt a people ! Yet this was but one of many instances of his 
national prejudice and illiberality. 

This grain succeeds better than Barley, in a thin soil ; and is there- 




fore frequently employed, in the rotation of crops, when Barley would 
have been preferred, had the land been good. The A. nuda, L., called 
" skinless oats," — a species nearly allied to this, but with 3 - 5-flowered 
spikelets, and the caryopsis loosely covered by the paleas, — has been par- 
tially cultivated, by the curious, on account of its superior fitness for 
making Oat-meal, as an article of diet for the sick. 

23. AREHENATHE'RUM, Beauv. Oat-grass. 

[Greek, Ahrrhen, male, and Atlier, awn • the staminate floret being awned.] 

Spikelets 2-fl!owered with the rudiment of a third, terminal one ; middU 



Fig. 267. A 3-flowered spikelet of the Oat (A vena sativa), the two lower flowers fertile, 
the lowermost awned, the uppermost abortive. 268. The pistil removed to exhibit the 
scales at the base of the hairy ovary. 



396 



WEEDS AXD rSEFLL PLAXTy. 



fiower perfect, ^vith its lower palea convex with a short awn near the 
apex ; imcest floret staminate onlv, bearing a long bent aivn on the back 
below the middle ; otherwise nearly as in Arena. 

1. A. avexa'cei:]^!, Beauv. Leaves flat ; panicle linear-oblong, con- 
tracted, finally spreading ; glumes unequal, the lower one shorter than 
the florets. 

Oat-like AEEHEXATHERUii. Oat-grass. Grass of the Andes. 
Fr. Avoins elevee. Germ. "Wiesen Hafer. 

Root perennial, creeping, nodose. Culm about 3 feet high, glabrous. Leaves 4 - 8 or 10 
luclies long, lanee-linear, scabrous on the margin and upper surface ; sheaths striate, 
smooth ; ligule short, retuse. Panicle linear-oblong, finally spreading and somewhat 
nodding; — the branches short, semi-verticillate. 

Cultivated lots : introduced.' Xative of Eiarope. Fl. May. Fr. July. 

Ohs. This grass has been partially introduced, and cultivated, by a few 
curious farmers ; but it does not appear to be much of a favorite, eithe- 
for pasture or hay, in Pennsylvania. It is sometimes called Grass {A 
the Andes,"' — but I know not for what reason, as it seems to be of un- 
doubted European origin. 

Flixt in his treatise upon Grasses, speaks favorably of this grass, re- 
marking that it is esteem.ed by those who know it for its early, rapid 
and late grov/th, making it well calculated for a late pasture grass." 

24. HOLTUS, L. Yelvet-geass. 

[An ancient Greek name, of obscure derivation.] 

SpiMets crowded in an open panicle, 2-3-flowered ; /o?-(?f5 jointed with 
their pedicels, somewhat remote, enclosed and exceeded by the membra- 
naceous boat-shaped glumes. Lou-er floret perfect, but 'its thin lower 
palea awnless ; upper flower staminate only, with a bent awn below the 
tip. Stamens 3. Styles plumose to the base. Grain free, smooth. 

1. H. lana'tus, L. Softly hoary pubescent; panicle oblong, rather 
contracted ; awn of the staminate' floret recurved, included in the glume. 

Woolly Holcus. Telvet-grass. Feather-grass. "Wliite Timothy. 

Fr. Honque laineuse. Foiu de mouton. Germ. WoUiges Honig-gras. 

Root perennial. Culm simple. 18 inches to 2 feet high. Leaves lance-hnear, acute, 2 -p5 
or 6 inches long ; ligule white, trimcate, dentate. Panicle oblong, somewhat dense --thB 
branches hairv. GZuni^s roughish-pubescent, whitish, often tinged with purple. Fiords 
both pedicellate, smooth and shining. Paleoi of the perfect floret nearly equal m length, 
the lower one broader, keeled,— of the staminate floret unequal, the lower oce larger, keel- 
ed, with a recurved or hooked awn on the back near the apex. 

Moist meadows : introduced. Native of Europe. Fl. June. Fr. July. 



Obs. This grass is naturalized in many places in Pennsylvania. Soma 




FtG. 269. Velvet Grass (Holcus lanatus). 



398 



WEEDS AXD USEFUL PLANTS. 



ly very little esteemed by oiir farmers : and in this they concur in the 
opinion expressed by Mr. G. Sixclaie, in his valuable Hortus Grami- 
neus. 

25. A^'THOXAX'THUM, L. Sweet-scented Terxal Grass. 

[Greek, Antlws, flower, and anilwn. of flowers ; flower of flowers.] 

SpiJcelets in a condensed, spike-form panicle ; each spikelet 3-flowered, 
but the lower two (or apparently lateral) florets neutral, consisting merely 
of a narrow paica, which is hairy and awned on the back. Perfect floret 
diandrons, with 2 short, smooth, shining paleae. Glumes thin, acute, 
keeled, the upper about as long as the flowers and twice the length of 
the lower. Grain smooth, adherent to and enclosed by the palea?. 

1. A. odora'toi. L. Panicle contracted into an oblong spike ; spike- 
lets sub-pedunculate, spreading, pubescent; palece of the neutral florets 
ciliate. 

Feagraxt AxTHOXAxinuAi. Sweet-scented Vernal Grass. 
Fr. riouve odorante. Germ. Das Ruch-gras. 

2?oof perennial. Culm erect, 12-18 inches higli, rather slender, iectres lance-linear, 
ehortish (1 or 2-5 or 6 inches long), pubescent ; sheaths nerved, sulcate ; ZigrwZe elongated, 
membranaceous. PctnicZe a sort of loose spike 1-2 or 3 inches long, becoming yellow 
when mature : spiJcdets somewhat fascicled, on short peduncles. Palm of Xhe perfect floret 
very short, obtuse, nearly equal, smooth and shining, the lower one much broader. 
Paleas. of the neutral florets single, linear-oblong, ciliate on the margins, — one of them with 
a geniculate awn from near the base, more than twice as long as the palea, the other with 
a straight awn about as long as the palea, inserted on the back near the summit. Anthers 
linear, large. Stigmas white. Grain oblong, blackish, shining. 

Meadows and moist open woodlands : introduced. Native of Europe. PZ. May -June. 
F,: July. 

Obs. This has been much noticed, in Europe, as a fragrant meadow- 
grass ; but it seems rather to belong to a moist, cold, thin soil, — and is 
by no means regarded, in the United States, as a grass of superior value. 
When cut, and partly dry, it emits a fragrant odor ; often remarkable 
in new mown hay. The culms have been used in the manufacture of 
imitation Leghorn hats and bonnets. 

This grass is the plant referred to by Dr. Daewix. in the following 
lijies of his imaginative poem, the '•' Botanic Garden :" — 

Ti"o gentle shepherds, and their sister-wives. 
With thee, Axthoxa 1 lead ambrosial hves ; 
Where the wide heath in purple pride extends, 
And scatter'd furze its golden lustre blends, 
Closed in a green recess, unenvi'd lot ! 
The blue smoke rises from their turf-built cot ■ 
« Eosom'd in fragrance blush their infant train, 

tve the warm sun, or drink the siiver rain."-" 

Bot. Garden, Part II. Canto I. I. 85-92. 

26. PHAL'AEIS, L. Caxary Grass. 

Mireek, Fhalos, shining ; alludirg to the shining florets, or palese.] 

SpiJcelets in a dense or spiked panicle, 3-flowered, but the two lower (or 



GRASS FAMILY. 



399 



lateral) florets mere neutral rudiments at the base of llie perfect one. 
Glumes nearly equal, boat-shaped and often winged-keeled, exceeding the 
florets. Fertile jloret flattish, of two shining awnless paleod which at 




Fig. 270 Sweet-scented Vernal Grass (Aathoxanthum odoratum). See Fig. 249 



400 WEEDS ^\XD USEFUL PLa^J^TS. 

length become coriaceous, closely investing the free smooth grain. Leaves 
broad and flat. 

1. P. arnildina'cea, L- Panicle oblong, with the spikelets more or les3 
clustered and somewhat secund on the branches ; glumes keeled, wing- 
less ; neutral, rudiments hairy. 
Reed-like Phalaeis. Eeed Canary Grass. 




Fig. 271. Reed Canary Grass (Phalaris arundinacca). 272. Aspikelet, 273. Aspikelet witfc 
Ihc glumes removed • the central fertile flower with two miuate abortive ones at its D3S.9 



GRASS FAMILY. 



Perennial. CuIinZ-o feet high. Leaves 5-12 inches lo^g, lance- h;: oar, keeled, deep 
gToen; sheaths smooth ; ligide ovate, obtuse. Panicle erect, finally a little spreading, 
glaucous. Glumes acute or acuminate with flattened tips, whitish with 3 green nerves. 
FalecB pilose with apprcssed hairs. Grain ovate, dark brown. 

Swampy places and borders of rivulets : common. June- July. 

Ohs. This fine-looking deep green grass frequently arrests the atten- 
tion on account of its luxuriant growth and promising appearance ; but 
it is of little or no agricultural value. When cut early and made into 
hay, cattle, it is said, will eat it if they can get nothing better. A va- 
riety, with the leaves striped with white, is known in gardens as the 
Striped or Eibbon Grass. When this variety is allowed to grow in wet 
situations it loses its peculiarity. 

2. P. canarien'sis, L. Panicle spike-like, oval ; glumes wing-keeled ; 

neutral rudiments smooth. 

Canaey Phalaris. Canary Grass. 

Annual. Culm 1-2 feet high, smooth. Leaves pale green and glaucous ; the shealhs 
somewhat inflated. Glumes nearly twice as long as the palese, yellowish-green. 
Waste places and in cultivation. Native of Europe. July -September. 

Obs. This is sometimes cultivated for the seed which is the favorite 
food of Canary Birds ; it is also naturalized to some extent and is fre- 
quently seen in waste places. 

27. PAS'PALUM, L. Paspalum. 

[Greek, Paspalos; said to be an ancient name for Millet.] 

SpiMcts racemose-spiked, usually in 2 rows, on one side of a flattened 
continuous rachis, jointed with their very short pedicels, plano-convex 
and nearly orbicular. Glume and empty palea few-nerved. Perennials 
with erect smoothish culms and single, digitate or raceraed spikes. 
1, P. seta'ceum, Mx. Culm slender ; leaves hairy ; spike mostly soli- 
tary on a long terminal peduncle. 
Setaceous Paspalum. 

Ct(7m 1 - 2 feet high, setaceously slender, often purplish below and somewhat hairy. 
Leaves 2-6 inches long, hairy on both sides; sheaths smooth, pilose at throat. Fspike 2-4 
inches iu length, very slender, — often with another on a short peduncle from the sama 
Bhcath, sometimes others from the lower sheaths. 

Sandy fields and road-sides : throughout the United States. Aug ist. 

Ohs. This grass, together with Panicum sanguinale, L., is said by Dr. 
Short to supplant and take the place of the Kentucky Blue Grass, at 
the West, in all exposed and sunburnt situations, after midsummer. * 

28. PAN'ICUM, L. Panic Grass. 

[Supposed from the Latin, Panis, bread ; which some species afford.] 
Spikelets panicled or racemose, sometimes spiked. Glumes unequal ; the 
lower one short or minute, sometimes wanting. Lower jioret neutral or 
staminate, rarely awned, mostly consisting of a single palea which re- 
sembles the upper glume. Upper floret perfect, coriaceous, awaless, en- 



403 



^VEEDS AXD USEFUL PLAXTS. 



closing the free and grooTcless grain. Stamens 3. Stig7nas plumose, 
usually purple. The species here enumerated are all annual. 

^SpiJceJets crowded 2-3 together in simple one-sided digitate-fasdclcd spikes : 
neutral jloret of a single palea : lower glume minute or wanting. 

1. P. sanguina'le, L. Spikes 4 - 15 ; upper glume half the length of the 
flower ; the lower one small. 

Bloody (or Pueple) Paxicum. Crab Grass. Finger Grass. 

CvJm decumbent. 1-2 feet long, someTvliat brancMng from the sheaths, geniculate, 
glabrous, radicating at the lower nodes. L&jves 1 or 2 - 6 or S inches long, softly pilose ; 
shmtlis strigosely hairy, sometimes smooth : ligule short, truncate, or ovate and acute, 
white or often tinged with purple. Spikes 2 or b - 6 inches in length', often in 2 fascicles or 
verticils a httle distant from each other, becoming purple ; radiis flat, flexuose, scabrous 
on the margin. SpikddLs m pairs, appre'ssed, in 2 rows on the outer or under side of the 
rachis, on short pedicels, — the lower ones subsessile. 

Gardens and cultivated grounds : throughout the United States. Fl. July -September, 
Ir. August -October. 

Ohs. In the middle States, this is a troublesome Grass in Gardens, in 
the latter part of summer : and is frequent, also, in Indian Corn-fields, — 
but not difficult to be kept in reasonable subjection, by the early and 
free use^of the ■•' cultivator.'' Cattle will eat it, — but do not appear to 
be particularly fond of it : and indeed it is generally choked out of good 
pastures, by the prevalence of more acceptable grasses. It is said to be 
a serious pest, in the cultivated grounds of the Southern planters. Mr. 
Elliott — than whom there can be no better authority — has the follow- 
ing remarks on this plant : — Grows everywhere on lauds not inundated. 
Well known to planters under the name of Crab or Crop grass. It is 
the most troublesome grass our planters have to encounter in high 
ground culture, and though an annual, it is the best grass for hay at 
present known in our low country.'' 

2. P. o:lahrum, Gaudin. Spikes 2 - 6, widely diverging ; upper glume 
equalling the floret ; the lower almost wanting. 

Smooth Pas'iccij. Smooth Crab Grass. 

(7«7?7i 6-12 inches long, often closely prostrate. Len-?s 1-3 inches in length: iJieaffis 
smooth, a little pUoso at the throat. Spikes 1-3 inches long, seldom more than 3 in 
Bumber ; spikdets greenish-purple. 

Cultivated grounds and waste places. Xative of Europe. August - September. 

Obs. Xaturalized in cultivated fields and lots, but not so troublesome 
as the preceding. A very slender, smooth species with erect spikes (P. 
fi-liforme. L.) belongs to this section ; it is often abundant in sandy pas- 
tures, but it is not very important in any respect 

SpiJcelets scattered in large capillary panicles, ownless : neutral Jloret oj 
a single palea. 

3. P. capilla're, L- Sheaths very hirsute : panicle large, capillary, 
loose, finally expanding : spikelets lanceolate, acuminate, on long scabroua 
peduncles. 



GRASS l AiOLT. 



403 



CAPiLLARy OS Hair-like Panicum. Old- witch Grass. 

Root annual. Culm assurgent or erect, usually 1-2 feet (occasionally o-Jy a fcMr Inches) 
high, sometimes branching. Leaves 3-8 or id inches long, lance-linear, rather broad, 
acuminate, nerved, hairy ; sheatfis sulcate-striate, very hirsute with spreading, whitish 
bristly hairs ; ligule short, fringed or beard-like. Panicle large and pyramidal ; branches 
numerous, subdivided, very slender, straight, — at first erect, then spreading, finally 
divaricate. Spikelds small, often purple. AborLive Jloret without a superior palea. Per- 
fect floret much shorter than the upper glume, lance-oblong, plano-convex, smooth and 
shining. 

Sandy pastures, cultivated grounds; throughout the United States. i^Z. August. Fr 
September. 

Ohs. This worthless species flourishes most in a light sandy soil ; but 
it is usually more or less abundant in all Indian Corn-fields, in the latter 
part of summer. In autumn the dry culms break off, and the light di- 
varicate panicles are rolled over the fields, by the winds, until they accum- 
ulate in great quantities along the fences and hedges. 

*"* Spikelets imbricate-spiJced on paniculate branches : Icwer palea of sterile 
Jloret owned or mucronate. 

4. P. Crus-gal'l/, L. Culms stout, smooth ; spikes alternate ; glumes 
ovate, abruptly pointed ; lower palea of sterile flower with an awn of 
variable length. 

Cock's-foot Panicoi. Barn-yard Grass. 

Root annual. Culm 2-5 feet high, rather coarse, smooth. Leaves 9-15 inches long, 
lance-linear, broadish, tiat, nerved, serrulate on the margin ; sheaths rather loose, com- 
pressed, striate, smooth ; Zi^rwie none. .Spite? sub-paniculate, — the spikelets crowded in 
dense spike-form, compound racemes on the branches. Sjnlcdets ovoid, plano-convex, 
cchinate, awned or sometimes awnless ; lower glume sbort, ovate, acute, 3-nerved, — the 
upper one as long as the perfect floret, ovate, acuminate, 5-uerved, with bristles on the 
nerves. JVeutral florel \s''ith 2 2^c<leai, — the lower one ovate, flat, with a scabrous awn or 
long acumination, 5-nerved — one of the nerves central, scabrous, the others marginal, in 
approximated pairs, presenting a double row of cartilaginous bristles, — the upper palea 
ovate, acute, thin and membranaceous, nearly as long as the perfect floret. Peifect flortl 
plano-convex, acuminate, the j;aZecE firm, smooth and shining. Grain compressed, orbicu- 
lar, white or ash-colored. 

Moist grounds, meadows, drains of barn-yards, kc: introduced? Fl. August. Fr, 
September. 

Ohs. Kunth gives this as an inhabitant of the four quarters of the 
globe ; but I suspect it is a naturalized foreigner. There is a variety in 
which the sheaths are hispid, and another in which the floral coverings 
are awnless. It is apt to abound along the drains of crude liquid flowing 
fr«m barn-yards, — and in spots which are usually designated as " wet 
and sour." Though usually regarded as a mere weed, and worthless, yet 
we have the authority of Mr. Flint for the remark that " some experi- 
ments have been made to cultivate this common species in the place of 
millet, to cut for green fodder. It is relished by stock and is very suc- 
culent and nutritive." This vast genus (containing upwards of 400 spe- 
cies, — a considerable number of which are indigenous, or found in our 
country) is remarkable for the little value, or interest, which it possesses 
in an agricultural point of view. With the exception of P. railiaceum, 
L. — and perhaps one or two other oriental species, which produce a kind 



404 



WEEDS AND USEFIjL PLANTS. 



of Millet— the v/hole multitudinous group are regarded as little better 
than mere weeds ; — though none of them, so far as I know, are particu- 
larly obnoxious or diflQcuit to expel by judicious culture. Those here 
described, are inserted merely as samples of a numerous and somewhat 
variant family. 

29. SETA'EIA, Beauv. Bristly Fox-tail Grass. 

[Latin, Seta, a bristle ; from the involucre-like bristle of tlie spikclets.] 

Spikelets as in Panieunj, awnless, but with the short 'peduncles produced 
beyond them into solitary or clustered bristles resembling awns. Infio- 
rescence a dense spiked panicle or apparently a cylindrical spike. Annuals : 
introduced from Europe, and are all naturalized weeds, except the last, 
which is occasionally cultivated. 

1. S. glav/ca, Beauv. Spike cylindric, tawny yellow ; bristles 6-10 
in a cluster, much longer than the spikelets ; paleae of the perfect floret 
transversely rugose. 

Glaucous Setaria. Fox-tail Grass. 

i2ooi annual. CicZ??i 2- 3 feet high, sometimes branching, often several from the same 
root, smooth. Leaves 6-12 or 15 mches long, somewhaS glaucous, lance-lmear, keeled, 
slightly scabrous, with a few long slender hairs at the base ; sheaths striate, smooth ; 
ligule short, fringed or beard-like. Spike 2-4 inches long, rather slender and quite cylin- 
drical ; rachis pubescent. Bristles scabrous upwards, becoming tawny or orange-yellow. 
Siaminatefioret sometimes wholly abortive or neutral. Perfect fioret plano-convex, — the 
palecB very firm and traversed by horizontal undulate wrinkles. 

Cultivated grounds; stubble fields, &c.: introduced. Native of India and Continental 
Europe. Fl. August. Fr. September. 

065. This usually makes its appearance, in abundance, among the 
stubble after a wheat crop, — and is often seen in pastures, orchards, &c., 
when not kept down by the promotion of a more valuable growth. 
Cattle refuse the herbage, if better can be had ; and the plant is alto- 
gether worthless, — except thsit poultry (especially turkeys) are fond of 
stripping the spikes of their seeds, in the latter part of summer. 

2. S. viridis, Beauv. Spike green, sub-cylindrical or oval-oblong, more 
or less compound ; bristles fev/ in a cluster, much longer than the spike- 
lets ; palese of the perfect floret longitudinally striate, punctate. 
Green Setaria. Green Fox-tail. Bottle Grass. 

Root annual. Culm 1 - 2 or 3 feet high, branching near the base, rather slender. Leaves 
3-6 or 8 inches long, lance-linear, flat, somewhat scabrous, minutely serrulate on the 
margin ■ sheaths striate, smooth, pilose on the margin ; Ugiile fringed or beard-like. Spike 
1 - 3 inches long, somewhat compound or a little enlarged in the middle, often nearly 
cylindric ; raxhis hirsute with short hairs. Bi-istles scabrous upwards, green. SteriU 
floret usually wholly abortive or neutral, — the upper palea very small. PalecB of the per- 
fect floret smooth, puncticulate, striate lougitudiaally, with a slight transverse rugosity 
perceptable under a lens. 

Cultivated grounds, pastures, fee: introduced. Native of Southern Europe. Fl. July 
-August. J*^-. August -September. 

Obs. This species is also naturalized to a considerable extent, and is 



GRASS FAMII-Y. 405 




aljOTit as worthless as the preceding, — but is not regarded as a serious 
nuisance. 

3. S. Ital'ica, Beauv. Tar. Germanica, Kunth. Spike compound, 



Fig 274. Fox-tail Grass (Setaria glauca). 



400 



WEEDS AXD USEFUL PLAX'TS. 



ovoid-oblong, yellowisli-greeu ; bristles 4-8 in a cluster, about as long 
as the spikelets : palege of the i^erfect floret smooth, striately punctate. 

Italian Setaria. Millet. Bens;al Grass. 

Root annual. Culm 2-4 or 5 feet high. Leaves 6-12 and 18 inches long, lance-linear, 
rather broad, flat, serrulate on the margin ; sheathe striate, pubescent on the margin ; 
Zi;7mZ€ beard-hke. Spil-e compound (or rather a densely contracted j3anid€), 3-6 inches 
long, ovoid-oblong or sub-cjdindric ; rachis densely hirsute with long hairs. Bi~istles some- 
times longer than the spikelets, yellowish. Sterile fioj-et wholly abortive, or neutral, — the 
upper palea very minute, palea of the perfect Jioj"et smooth, minutely striate-punctate. 

Fields ; cultivated as a fallow crop. Native of Europe and India. ' Ft July. D: Aag. 

Obs. Some years ago, the culture of this plant was introduced into 
Pennsylvania, and excited considerable interest, for a time, among the 
farmers, — as affording valuable fodder, when the usual hay- crop "^as 
likely to be deficient. It was soon found, however, not to be as valuahle 
as the usual fallow crop (of Oats or Barley), of which it occupied the 
place ; and was, moreover, remarkably liable to damage from rain. The 
cultivation, therefore, soon declined, — and is now generally abandoned. 
There is another species [S. verticillata, Beauv., — vrith the spike com- 
posed of interrupted verticils of spikelets, and the involucre of retrorsely 
scabrous bristles, in pairs.) which is becoming something of a nuisance, 
about gardens, in many places ; but it seems scarcely, as yet, entitled to 
a more particular notice here. 

30. CEN'CHRUS, L. Bur Grass 

[Greek, KencTiros ; the ancient name of Millet.] 

Spikelets as in Panicum, awnless, but enclosed (1-5 together) in a glob- 
ular bristly or spinose involucre, which becomes coriaceous, forming a 
deciduous bur in fruit. Involucres sessile in a terminal .s/^/Zre. Siyle-s 
united below. 

1. C. tribuloi'des, L. Involucre subglobose, pubescent, spinosely 
muricate, split on one side. 

Tkibulus-like Cexcheus. Bur Grass. Hedge-hog Grass. 

Boot annual. Culm 1-2 feet long, usually oblique or procumbent, geniculate, branch- 
ing, smooth. Xeareo 3-6 or 8 inches long, lance-linear, acuminate, ?'y;htly scabrous on 
the margin; sheaths loose, smooth; liguie beard-like. Raceme terminal, of 6-12 or 14 
alternate involucrate heads or clusters : rachis angular, flexuose, slightly scabrous. Li- 
voliLcre urceolate or subglobose, laciniate, usually split to the base on one side, hairy, 
armed externally with rigid subulate scabrous spines, villous within, embracing 1, 2, cr 
3 spikelets. ^^terile ^ore< mostly staminate. Sandy fields. Fl. Xag. JPa Sept. 

Obs. The plant is very abundant in sandy districts along the coast and 
around the great Lakes,— and has found its wny to some of the slaty 
hills of Penosylvania. It is altogether a worthless grass ; and the 
prickly involucres are a grievous nuisance, wherever it prevails in oul- 



GRAbS FAMILY, 



407 



tivated grcunds, or about houses. It ought to be most carefully and 
thoroughly extirpated, on its first appearance iu arj agi^icultural region. 

31. TEIP'SACUM, L. Gi3iA Grass. 

[Greek, tribo, to rub ; perhaps in allusion to its polished fertile spikes.] 

Spikelets momciGns, in terminal and subterminal jointed spikes which 
are solitary, or often digitate in twos or threes, staminate aboTe and 
fe'dih below. Stamixate spikelets in pairs on each triangular joint, 
longer than the joint, collateral, 2-flowered ; glumes coriaceous, the 
outer one nerved, the inner one boat-shaped ; palea very thin and mem- 
branaceous, awnle^ ; stamens 3 ; anthers orange-colored, opening by 2 
pores at summit. Pistillate spikelets single, 2-flowered (the loiccr 
one neutral), deeply imbedded in each oblong joint of the cartilaginous 
thickened radus, and occupying a boat-sbaped cavity which is closed by 
the polished cartilaginous ovate outer glume : inner glume much thinner, 
boat-shaped ; palcx very thin, hyaline and closely packed together. 
Style long : stigmas very long, plumose, dark-purple. Grain ovoid, free. 
Perennials with ca^spitose tall iDranching culms which are hard, smooth 
and solid ; leaves very long, sublinear, acuminate ; spilce-s separating at 
the articulations spontaneously, at maturity. 

1. T. dactyloi'des, L. Spikes usually 2-3, aggregated or digitate 
sometimes solitary, — the upper half staminate, the lower pistillate. 

Fixgee-like Tripsacum. Gama Grass. Sesame Grass. 

CuZttiso or 4-6feet high, hard and glabrous, solid with pith, — the internodes broadly 
channelled on alternate sides ; nodes smooth, with a dark-brown contracted ring at the 
base of the sheaths. Leaves 1 or 2-4 feet long, and half an inch to an iuch or more in 
width, lance-linear, keeled, smooth beneath, ro'ughish on the upper surface, serrulate on 
the margin, contracted and sparingly pilose at base ; sheaths nerved, glabrous : Ugule 
very short, ciliate. Spikes 4-6 or 8 inches long, not unfrequently single ; when solitary, 
the "pistillate portion of the spike is terete, — when in pairs, semi-terete as if split down,— 
and when ternat« the spikes are somewhat triquetrous. ' Caryopsis ovoid, smooth, — the 
pericarp thin and tender. 

Moist meadows, banks of streams, kc. : Middle and Western States. Fh July. Jr. 
September. 

Obs. This stout and remarkable Grass is not very common on the 
Atlantic slope of our continent ; but it is said to be abundant in the 
valley of the Mississippi. Some years ago it was highly extolled, by a 
few western correspondents of our Agricultural Journals, as an article 
of fodder for stock ; but I have not heard much of it, latterly. The 
leaves and young culms may probably answer a good purpose — where 
better materials are scarce ; but any one who will examine the coarse 
hard stems of the full-grown or mature plant, may soon satisfy himself 
that it can never supersede the valuable grasses, or the good hay. now ii) 
use, — nor compete, in any respect, with common Indian-corn fodder. 



408 



WEEDS AXD USEFUL PLAJfTS. 



32. ZE'A. L. Indian Corn. 

[Greek zao, to live ; from the sustenance it affords to an.mal life. 

Staminate spikelets in terminal, fascicled, spicate racemes, 2-flowered ; 
glumes herbaceous, pubescent ; palece membranaceous, awnless ; stamens 




Fig. 275. A staminate spikelet, from the tassel of Indian Corn (Zea Mays). 276. The 
pistillate spike or ear, with the involucre or husk removed ; the long stjies of the nume- 
rous crowded spikelets forming the silk. 277. A separate spikelet, show'rg the fertile and 
sterile flore; enclosed in the glumes or chaff. 



GEASS FAMILY. 



409 



S : anthers linear, erect ; scales 2, collateral, flesliy, glabrous. Pistillate 
BPiKKLETs sessile, 2-flowered (the lower one abortive), in dense continuous 
spikes, -u'liich terminate short, nodose, axillary branches, — the spikes en- 
veloped by sheaths of abortive leaves, called husks; glwnes ^eshj-mem- 
branaceous, very broad, ciliate, — the lower one emarginately 2-lobed ; 
palecB fleshy-membranaceoiis, — the abortive floret with 2 palese. Ovary 
roundish ovoid ; style capillary, very long, exserted from the envelopes 
of the spike, pubescent at the summit, and mostly bifid (stigmas ? ) 
Grain usually crowded and then compressed, cuneate or roundish-kidney- 
shaped, with a shallow groove on the upper side containing the embryo, 
— the base imbedded in the persistent glumes and paleoe. Annual: 
culm stout, solid with pith ; pistillate spikelets in 8 - 12 longitudinal rows 
on the thick sub-cylindric rachis, the rows always in approximated pairs, 
before the spaces are filled by their growth ; spikes (or ears) 1-3 or 4 
(rarely more — usually 2) on a culm. 

1. Z. Mays, L. Leaves flat, linear-lanceolate, acuminate, with a broad 
midrib channelled above. 

Indian Corn. Maize. 

Culm 4-15 feet high, and about an inch or an inch and a half in diametor, simple (often 
producing branches or suckers, at base) , nodose, semi-terete, or with a broad shallow 
channel, on alternate sides, between the nodes. Leaves 2 -3 feet long, and 2 -4 inches 
wide, pubescent above, smooth beneath ; sheaths smooth, pubescent along the margins ; 
liffule^ short. 

Cultivated. Native of South America. Fl. July. Fi: September. 

Ohs. Culture has produced several varieties of this plant, — with the 
grains yellow, white, or sometimes dark purple. In the North, it is 
much smaller than in the middle and South-western States. There is, 
also, a remarkable variety — frequent, I believe, in the South-west — in 
which a kind of husk, or involucre, is developed around every grain, or 
spikelet, on the receptacle. The Indian Corn is one of the most interest- 
ing of the Gramineas, or Grass Family, — rivalling the Sugar Cane and 
the Rice, in intrinsic value, and, in the more favorable districts, ranking 
next in importance to Wheat itself. In a botanical light, the Corn 
Plant is an interesting one. The staminate flowers, commonly called 
the tassel, are arranged at the summit of the plant where their pollen 
may fall upon the pistillate spikes, or ears, below ; these are dense spikes 
covered with sheaths of abortive leaves, the husks, which often have their 
blade more or less developed. The silk of the ear is the elongated pistils, 
one of which proceeds from each ovary or kernel. The cob is the thick 
rachis, and the chaS* which covers it the glumes and paleae. From the 
lower nodes or joints aerial roots are often thrown out, imitating in an 
humble way the celebrated Banyan-tree. The juice of the stem, before 
the grain is perfected, contains a considerable amount of saccharine 
matter, and sugar has been obtained from it. The young ears — especially 
in the varieties known as sweet corn — have much sugar, which is chano-ed 
into starch as the grain ripens. ^ 
18 



410 



WEEDS AND USEFUL PLANTS. 



33. SACCHA'RUM, L. Sugar Cake. 

[Latinized from the Greek, Sacchar ; originally from the Arabic, SouJcar, Sugar.] 

Spikelets in pairs — one of them pedicellate, the other sessile — each 2- 
flowered, with a tuft of long silky hairs at base ; the lower floret neuter, 
with a single palea, — the upper one perfect. Glumes 2, nearly equal, 
awnless. PalecB 3 (counting that of the neutral floret), minute, unequal, 
awnless, hyaline. Scales 2, obsoletely 2-3-lobed at apex, sometimes 
connate in a tube. Stamens 1-3. Oi^arj/ sessile, glabrous; styles 1, 
terminal, elongated ; stigmas plumose, — the hairs simple, denticulate. 
Grain free? — Gigantic tropical grasses, with large silky panicles. 

1. S. officina'eum, L. Leaves flat; panicle large and expanding; 
spikelets racemose on the slender branches ; florets triandrous ; glumes 
obsoletely 1-nerved, or keeled, invested with long silky hairs at base. 

Officinal Saccharum. Sugar Cane. 

Fr. Canne a Sucre. Germ. Aechtes Zucker-rohr. Span. Cana de Azucar. 

Root perennial (a nodose rhizoma). Culm 8-15 or 20 feet high, and 1-2 inches in di- 
ameter, with numerous nodes, and solid with pith. Leaves linear-lanceolate, largo (some- 
thing resembling those of Indian Corn). Panicle a foot or more in length, loosely branched, 
the Isranches numerous, filiform, 4- 6 inches long, remarkably plumose, or pubescent 
with verticils or tufts of long white silky hairs at the base of the racemose spikelets. 

Cultivated in Louisiana and other States in the extreme South of the Union. Native of 
Asia. Fl. Fr. 

Ohs. The Sugar Cane is rarely permitted to flower, under cultivation, 
being propagated by sections of the culm. The value and importance 
of this noble Grass, in the domestic economy and commerce of the 
civilized world, are too well known to require comment. Not having 
the .advantage of an acquaintance with the living plant, and its culture, 
my descriptive details and remarks are necessarily very imperfect. Some 
interesting notices may be found in " Rees' Cyclopaedia," Art. Sugar ; 
and in the " Farmer's Encyclopaedia." 

34. ANDROPO'GON, L. Beard Grass. 

[Greek ; literally Man''s-heard^ — in allusion to the hairy spikets.] 

Spikelets 2-flowered, in pairs on each joint of the slender racliis, spiked 
or racemose ; one of the spikelets pedicellate and sterile, often a mere 
rudiment : the other sessile, with the lower floret neutral and of a single 
paha, the upper one perfect, of two thin hyaline pa/ece, which are shorter 
than the subcoriaceous glumes, the lower aivned from the tip. Stamens 
1-3. Grain free. Perennials with rigid culms, smooth nodes, and lateral 
and terminal, often clustered or digitate spikes ; the rachis hairy or plu- 
mose-bearded. 

* Spikes solitary at the apex of the culm and branches. 
1. ^, SCOpa'rillS, ^iic. Culm paniculately branched above, — the 



GRASS FAMILY. 



411 



biancbes somewLat fasciculate, erect, elongated, sl^^nder and purplish," 
sheaths villous ; spikes on long peduncles ; the sterile ones neuter, awned. 

Broom Andropogon. Indian Grass. Purple Wood-grass. 

CwZm 3-4 feet high, rather slender, smooth, somexthat compressed . sulcate on alter- 
nate sides of the internodes : nodes smooth ; branches long, slender, in lateral fascicles, or 
sometimes in pairs, often subdivided. Leaves 4-8 or 12 inches long, lance-linear, acute- 
scabrous, a little hairy and somewhat glaucous ; sheaths stviato , roughish • liguh truncate. 
Spikes about 2 inches long ; rocMs compressed or plano-convex, pilose at the edges. Spike- 
lets distichously arranged ; abortive spikelet minute, subulate, on a linear plumose pedicel 
which is nearly as long as the perfect spikelet, — the floret neuter ; perfect spikelH sessile ; 
glumes lance-linear, much acuminated, — the lower one bifid at apex ; paleae nearly equal, 
ciliate, — the lower ? one deeply bifid, with a twisted awn between the segments. 

Old fields, sterile banks, and road-sides, throughout the United states. Fl. August. 
Fr. September. 

Obs. This, and the other native species, are remarkably worthless 
grasses, — and are apt to abound in poor old neglected fields. Where 
they prevail, no further evidence is required to demonstrate the unprofit- 
able condition of the land, or the miserable management of the occupant. 
^ * Spikes digitate, at the apex of the culm or branches. 

2. A. furca'tus, Muhl. Spikes digitate, generally in threes or fours ; 
rachis hairy ; the sterile floret staminate, awnless. 
Forked Andropogon. Finger-spiked Indian Grass. 

Culm about 4 feet high, smooth, terete below, semi-terete above, often branching ; nodes 
smooth. Leaves 4: -S or 12 inches long, lance-linear, nerved, smoothish, scabrous on ihe 
margin, pilose at base; sTiea^/is striate, smooth ; Zi<jf?(Ze obtuse, sometimes ovate, fringed. 
ijjiAes 2 - 3 inches long, usually in threes or fours (sometimes 5-6) frequently purple ; 
rachis semi-terete, pilose on the angles ; abortive spikelet on a clavate, plumose pedicel : 
perfect spikelet sessile. Slaty hills, and sterile low grounds. Fl. Aug. Fr. Sept. 

Obs. This is one of the native species which is very worthless, — and 
very frequent on poor, neglected, badly managed farms. The species of 
Andropogon here given, are the most common and obtrusive ones, in our 
poor lands, — at least in Pennsylvania. There are a few others, — par- 
ticularly one with the spikes conjugate, in fastigiate bushy panicles (A. 
macrourus, Mx.), — which is not unfrequent in wet, swampy meadows ; 
but, tliough they are all equally worthless, these are scarcely of suflBcient 
importance to require further notice in this work. 

35. SOR'GHUM, Pens. Broom Corn. Sorghum. 

[The ancient name of a cultivated species.] 

SpiMets 2-3 together on the branches of a mostly loose and open pan- 
icle, — the lateral ones sterile, or often mere rudiments, — the middle (or 
terminal) one only fertile. Glumes coriaceous, sometimes awnless. Sta- 
mens 3. For the rest as in Andropogon. 

* Culms slender, fistular. 
1. S. nu'tans, Oray. Leaves lance-linear ; ligule elongated, truncate ; 
panicle narrowly oblong ; fertile spikes russet-brown. 
Nodding SoRcnuM. Wood Grass. Oat-like Indian Grass. 



412 WEEDS AND USEFUL PLAXTS. 

Root perennial. Culm 3-5 feet higli, simple, terete, glabrous ; nodes bearded witli 
white appressed liairs. Leaves 6-18 inches long, lance-linear, rough, serrulate on ths 
margin ; sheaths nerved, smooth ; liguU elongated, truncate, bordered by a lanceolate 
extension of the margins of the sheath. Panicle 6-9 inches in length, — the ultimate 
branches or pedicels of the upper spikelets, plumosely hairy. Abortive spikelet pedicellate, 
often a mere awn-like plumose rudiment. Glumes of the 'perfect spikelet lanceolate, indu- 
rated, of a light russet-brown color, — the lower or outer one hairy, embracing the upper 
one, which is smooth and rather longer. Palea; thin and membranaceous, — the lower ? 
one bifid, awned below the division ; awn contorted, bent obliquely. 

Sterile old fields : throughout the United States. Fl. August. Fr. September. 

2. S. sacchara'tum, Pers. Leaves liDear-lanceolate ; ligule short, ciliate ; 
panicle with long verticillate branches, loosely expanding. 

SuGAE SORGHUM. Broom Coi'n. 

Root annual. Culm 6 - 8 or 9 feet high, and half an inch to an inch in diameter , smooth ; 
nodes tumid, with a ring of short appressed hairs at the base of the sheaths. Leaves 
about two feet long, and 2-3 inches wide, linear-lanceolate, acuminate, keeled, smooth, 
densely pubescent at base adjoining the ligule ; sheaths smooth, ligide short, ciliate. Pani- 
cle 1-2 feet long, — the brandies nearly simple, long, fiexuose, scabrous with short hairs. 
Spikelets mostly in pairs, one of which is abortive (the terminal ones in threes, two being 
abortive), and these ^airs in racemose clusters of threes or fours, near the extremities of 
the branches. Upper ? or inner palea of the fertile spikelets with a purphsh fiexuose awn, 
about twice as long as the spikelet. 

Gardens and fields : cultivated. Native of India and Arabia, Fl. August. Fr. Oct. 

Obs. This species is cultivated for the panicles, of which brooms and 
brushes are made. It is said that Dr. Fraxklix first introduced Broom 
Corn into our country ; he chanced to see a Corn Whisk in the possession 
of a lady, and while examining it, as a novelty, he spied a grain of it still 
attached to the stalk. This he took and planted. 

3. S. vulga're, Pers. Panicle erect or somewhat contracted ; glumes 
of the fertile panicle pubescent. 

Common Sorghum. Indian Millet. Burra. 

Annual. CuZm 5 - 9 feet high ; nofe pubescent. Zeare^ 6 - 9 inches long. Panicle 6- 
12 inches in length. 
Cultivated. Native of India. FL August. Fr. October. 

4. S. CERxu'uM, Willd. Panicle densely contracted, oval, mostly rigidly 
recurved or nodding ; glumes villous, fringed. 

Droopixg Sorghum. Guinea Corn. 

Annual. Ci(Zm 6-8 feet high; lowzr node? emitting verticillate radicles. Leaves 12- 
18 inches long. Panicle 4-6 inches long ; floreti villous, fringed, scarcely awned. 
Cultivated. Native of India. Fl. August. Fr. October. 

Obs. The genus Sorghum has acquired a considerable importance 
within a few years, on account of the introduction of some species or 
varieties as a sugar-producing plant, 'under the names of Chinese Sugar 
Cane, Sorghum,"Sora:ho, Imphee, &c. The true botanical character of 
the Sugar Plant does not seem to be settled, — it being referred by some 
to S. saccharatum — by others to S. bicolor, — and by some writers it is 
spoken of as Holcus saccharatus. It is probably a variety of S. vulgare, 
and was introduced into Pennsylvania forty years ago under the name 
of " Chocolate Corn and the seeds were roasted by the farmers' families, 



GKASS FAMILY. 



413 



as a substitute for coffee. The plant is very ricli in saccharine matter, 
and affords an excellent syrup ; but the sugar is uncrystallizable, aiid as 
yet no process has been discovered by means of which sugar can be pro- 
duced from it in any quantity. Those who are interested in this matter 
will find a full account of all that is at present known concerning the 
culture of this grass, whether for syrup making or as a food for stock, 
in a work called " Sorgho and Imphee," by Henry S. Olcott, published 
by A. 0. MooKE, New York. 



GLOSSARY 



OF THE 



PRINCirAL BOTANICAL TERMS USED IN THIS WOEK. 



The reader will bear in mind, that where compound dG^cviptWe terms fire em 
ployed iu this worl^:, the lent member of the compound word is intended to give the 
predominant char,(ctef'—;ind thrvt the word or syllable prefixed, merely indicates a 
modification of that character : as, for example, — "ovate-lanceolate " signifies lanceo- 
late, but inclining somewhat to ovate; while ''lance-ovate''' means ovate tvith something 
of the lanceolate form, &c. So of colors : ''yellowish-green^'' '■'•bluish-green,''' &c. signify 
that green is the prevailing hue, — but that it i3 tinged with a shade of yellow, blue, &c. 
Terms indicative of the size of any organ, or portion of plant — as "large,"''' "small,"''' or 
"•midAle-sized"' — are, of course, relative,— and have reference to the usual or average 
size of such parts, or organs, in other species of the same genus, or family. 



A; at the commencement of a word, signi- 
fies the absence of some part, as : apeta- 
lous, destitute of petals When the word 
commences with a vowel an is prefixed. 

Abnormal; ditferent from the regular or 
usual structure. 

Abortion; an imperfect development of 
any organ. 

Abortive; not arriving at perfection; pro- 
ducing no fruit. 

Abrupt: not gradual ; sudden. 

Abruptli/ acuminate ; suddenly narrowed 
to an acumination. 

Abruptly \)"imi2L\.e. See Even -pinnate. 

Acaulescent; apparently stcmless. 

Accessory; additional, or supernumerary. 

Accumbent cotyledons ; having the radicle 
applied to the cleft, or recurved along 
the edges of the cotyJedons (represented 
by this sign, o=),— as in some Crucife- 
rous plants. 

Acerose; linear and needle -like, — as Juni- 
per leaves, itc. 

Achenium. ^cq ATcene. 

Achlamydsous; applied to flowers that 
have no floral envelopes. 

Acxcular; needle-shaped. 

Acotyledonous; destitute of cotyledons, or 
seed-leaves. 

Acrogenous plants. Plants which grow or 
develop from the apex or summit, onlj-, 
of the stem, 

Acrogens. Apex-growers, or acrogenous 
plants : — which see. 

Aculeate; prickly ; armed with prickles. 

Aculeolate; armed with little prickles. 

Acuminate; ending in a produced taper- 
ing point. 

Acumind,tion. An extended tapering point. 



Acrde; sharp ; ending in an angle, or point 
not rounded. 

Adherent: attached to, or united Avith an- 
other different organ, — as the calyx-tube 
to tlie ovary, &c. See coherent. 

Adnate; adhering laterally ; fixed or gro"W 
ing to. 

Adventitious; happening irregularly; not 
produced naturally or usually. 

Equilateral; equal sided ; not oblique. 

Estivation. The mode in which sepals 
and pelcds are arranged in the flower- 
bud, before they expand-. 

Aftermath. The second growth of tlie 
grasses in the same season, after being 
cut off. 

Aggregated ; crowded, or standing to- 
gether on the same receptacle. 

Akene (or Achenium). A 1-seeded fruit 
with a dry indehiscent pericarp, — ofter 
bony or nut-like. 

Alct. Wings, or membranous expan 
sions. 

Alate; winged; having a membranou,? 
border. 

Albiimev. A deposit of nutritive mat- 
ter, distinct from the Embryo, found 
in many seeds, — and sometimes ( as 
in the grasses) constituting their chieJ 
bulk. 

Albiiminous seeds; furnished with, or con- 
taining albumen. 

Alternate; not opposite ; placed alternately 
on the axis, or receptacle. 

Alveolate; having pits, or cells like a honey- 
comb. 

Anient. A slender spike of naked and 
usually separated flowers, with imbricat 
ed scales or bracts. 



416 



GLOSSAEY. 



Amorphoris; without definite form. 
Amplexicaul; embracing or clasping the 
stem. 

Am2')hUropous ovule ; when it is half in- 
Terted and stands across the apex of the 
stalk or funiculus. 

Amylaceous; starch-like. 

Analogue. A body or organ resembling, 
substituted for, or equivalent to, another 
body or organ. 

Anastomosing; applied to branching ves- 
sels which inosculate, or unite again, like 
net-work. 

Andtropous ovule or seed. Turned ; 
inverted on the funiculus, so that the ori- 
fice or apex points towards the placenta. 

Anc'ipital; two-edged; somewhat flatted 
with opposite edges. 

AndroEcium ; a term employed to designate 
the staminate portion of a flower ; the 
stamens or fertilizing organs in the ag 
gregate. 

Andt'ogynous; having staminate and pistil- 
late flowers distinct, but on the same 
spike, or piant. 

Angiospermous ; having the seeds con- 
tained in a distinct pericarp or seed- 
vessel. 

Angulate; having angles, or corners, most- 
ly of a determinate number. 

Aanotinous; applied to leaves, &c., which 
are annual, or renewed every year. 

Annual; living or enduring but one year. 

Annular; in the form of a ring. 

Annulate; having a ring, or belt. 

Anomalous; not according to rule or sys- 
tem ; forming an exception to usual aj)- 
pearances, or structure. 

Anterior; in front,— as that part of a flower 
next to the bract, or farthest from the 
axis of inflorescence. 

Anther. The knob, or capsule, containing 
the pollen, — usually supported on a fila 
ment. 

Anther'iferous; bearing Anthers. 
Antrbrse or antrorseljj; pointing forwards, 

or upwards. 
Apetalous; destitute of petals; not having 

a corolla. 

Apex; the summit, upper or outer end. 
Aphyllous; destitute of leaves. 
Ap'iculate; tipt with a minute abrupt 
point. 

Appendiculate; having some appendage 
anr.exed. 

Appressed ; pressed to, or lying close 
against. 

Approximate; growing or situated near 

each other. 
Aq%t,atic; growing naturally in water, or in 

wet places. 
Arachnoid; resemblins a spider's web. 
Arhorescent; approaching the size or height 

of a tree. 

Arcuate; curved, or bent like a bow. 
Areola, A small cavity,— as in the base 
of ssme akenes. 



Arid; dry, as if destitute of sap. 

Arillate; having an arillus. 

Arillus. An expansion of tlie fujiicnius 
or seed stalk, forming a loose (and often 
fleshy) coating of the seed. 

Aristate; awned; having awns, or bristle- 
like processes. 

Armed; having thorns or prickles. 

Aromatic; having a spicy flavor or fra- 
grance. 

Articulated; jointed ; connected by jointa, 

or places of separation. 
Articidations. Joints; the places a' 

which articulated members are sepa 

rable. 

Ascending; rising from the ground ot 
liquely. 

Assurgent; rising in a curve from a declia 
ed base. 

Attenuated; tapering gradually until it be- 
comes slender. 

Aur'iculate; having rounded appendages at 
base, like ears. 

Awn. A slender bristle-like process, — 
common on the chatf of Grasses ; some- 
times on anthers, &c. 

Aicned; famished with awns, or bristle-liko 
appendages. 

Au-nless; destitute of awns. 

Aicil. The angle between a leaf and stem, 
or branch on the upper side. 

Axillary; growing in, or proceeding from, 
the axil. 

Axis. A central stem, or peduncle ; or, a 
real or imaginary central line extending 
from the base to the summit. 

Baccate; berried, — becoming fleshy or suc- 
culent, like a berry. 

Bald akenes ; naked at summit ; destitute of 
pappus or crown. 

Banner; the broad upper petal of a pajd 
lionaceous flower, — called, also, the 
Vex ilium: 

Barh. A straight process, armed with one 
or more teeth pointing backwards. 

Basal; originating at, or atfixed to, tlie hase 
of another organ. 

Beak. A terminal process, like a bird's 
bill. 

Beaked; having, or terminating in, a beak. 

Bearded; crested or furnished with par- 
allel hairs; the term is applied, also, to 
awned wheat, &c. 

Berry. A pulpy valveless fruit, in which 
the seeds are imbedded. 

B% in composition, meaning two or twice; 
as 

Bihracteate; having 2 bracts. 
Bihracteolate; having 2 small bracts, 

braotlets, or bracteoles. 
Bicdrinate; having 2 keels. 
Bictispidaie; ending in 2 sharp points or 

cusps. 

Bidcntate; furnished with 2 teeth. 
Bievnial; living 2 years — in the second of 

which thf! flowers and fruit are produced 

— and then dying. 



GLOSSAKY. 



417 



Bi/di-iou-'s; in two series, or opposite roAvs; 

pointing in two directions. 
B'ifid; two cleft, or split i to two segments. 
Bifi-liate; having or producing 2 leaves. 
Bifurcate; forked; ending in two equal 

branches. 

Bi-giobmis; having 2 hunches, or gibbous 

productions. 
Bi-glandular ; having or producing two 

glands. 
Bi'lMiate; having 2 lips. 
BildmeUate; having 2 lamella?, or thin 

plates. 

Bildcular; having 2 cells. 
Bipariihle; separab'e into 2 parts. 
Bipartite; two-parted. 

Bipinnate leaf. Twice pinnate ; the com- i 
mon petiole having opposite branches, 
and those branches bearing opposite ar- 
ticulated loatlets. 

Bipirmdti^tid leaf. The common petiole 
bearing opposite pinnatifid segments. 

Bi-rofstrate; having 2 beaks. 

Bi-setose; having 2 bristles. 

Bisiilcate; having 2 grooves or furrows. 

Biiernuteleaf; twice ternate ; the common 
petiole 3-parted, and each division, or 
branch, bearing 3 leaflets. 

Bivalved; having 2 valves. 

Biveniricose; hav ing 2 bellied or distended 
portions. 

Bloom. A fine powdery coating on certain 
fruits, &c., as the plum. 

Border; the summit or upper spreading 
part of a calyx or corolla. 

Bowl-shaped: hemispherical and concave, 
or hollow, like a bowl. 

Brdchiate; having the branches spreading, 
opposite and decus^sate. 

Bract. A floral leaf; a modified leaf, from 
the axil of which arises the flower-branch, 
or peduncle. 

Bractpute; i\wmi<\\Q(\. with bracts, or modi- 
fied leaves among or near the flowers. 

Bract eoles, or Brattletf. Small bracts. 

Bractless: destitute of bracts. 

Branchlets. Small branches, or subdivi- 
sions of branches. 

Bristles. Stiffish elastic hairs, straight or 
hooked. 

Bud. A growing point, or undeveloped 
axis, covered with the rudiments of 
leaves. 

Bulb. A kind of bud, formed of fleshy 
scales, or coats, and usually under 
ground— sometimes in the axis of the 
leaves. 

BulViferons; bearing or producing bulbs. 

Bulbous; formed of, or like a bulb. . 

Bullate\^^i\ having Jw&Z/Zc-Wjfce convexities 
on the upper surface, with corresponding 
cavities beneath. 

■Cadihco^is; falling oflP immediately, or ear- 
lier than usual for such organs. 

C&lcarate; spurred; having a process like 
6 horn, or spur,— usually hollow. 

Callo^is; firm and cristle-like. 

18^ 



Callus. A compact gristle-like tubercle, or 
substance. 

Calycijorr.i; shaped like a calyx. 

Calyculate; having an additional (usually 
small) outer calyx. 

Calyptra. The cap or hood (resembling 
the extinguisher of a candle,) on the fruc- 
tification of the mosses. 

Calyx The flower-cup, or outer (and 
sometimes the only) covering of a flower, 
usually green. 

Campdnulate; in the form of a bell. 

Campylvtropous ovule ; or seed. AVhcre the 
ovule curves upon itself, and thus brings 
the orifice, or apex, near to the funiculus. 

Canaliculate; channelled or furrowed. 

Candicant; whitish. 

Canescent: hoary; clothed with a whitish 
or gi-ey pubescence. 

Capilldceous. 01- capnllary; long and fine, 
or slender, like a hair. 

Capitate: head-form ; growing in a head, 
or globular mass. 

Cdpjstilar; resembling, or being, a capsule. 

Cajisule. A dry hollow seed vessel,— usu- 
ally opening by regular valves and defi- 
nite seams. 

Carina: keel. 

Cdrinate: keeled ; having a ridge on the 
back, like the keel of a boat. 

Cdrnose; fleshy; more firm than pulp. 

Cdrpd. A little fruit ; usually a partial pis- 
til, or constituent portion of a compound 
fruit. 

Carpophore. A slender central axis, bear- 
ing the carpels— a.a in Umbellifer^. 

Cartildginous; hard, yet somewhat flexible, 
like gi-istle. 

Caruncle. A fleshy excrescence, some- 
times found at the hilum of seeds. 

Carydpjsds. A fruit where the pericarp is 
very thin, indehiscent, and closely adher- 
ent to the surface of the seed, — as in the 
Grasses^ Cyperacea, &c. See Utricle. 

CatJdn ; see Ament. 

Cauda. A tail. Caudate; having a tail, or 
tail-like appendage. 

Caulescent; having an evident or true stem. 

Cauline; belonging to, or growing on, tlie 
main stem. 

Cellular: made up of little cells, or cavi- 
ties, formed of membranaceous sacs. 

Cellular plants. The lower orders of plants 
(including the Mosses., and those below 
them), composed exclusively of cellular 
tissue. 

Centr ifugal inflorescence ; — where the cen- 
tral flower of a cyme precedes the 
others, — i. e. the flowering commences at 
the centre and extends successively to the 
circumference. 

Centripetal inflorescence ; where the outer 
flowers of a corymb, or umbel precede 
the inner ones,— 1 e. the flowers expand, 
in succession, from the circumference to 
the centre. 

Cephaloid ; head-shaped. 



418 



GLOSSAET. 



Cereal: pertaining to Ceres: belonging to ! 
those lannaceoLis gram--, or seeds, oi 
whicli bread is made. — and over wnicli 
the goddess Ceres Avas supposed, by the 
aacients. to pro-ide. 

< ■■■■■■ >' : . ■ V j: ■: ■:• apex or summit 
iii'M ; .:, • ■'-"n\^'ards. 

t . .yni.'--. . u.i\ liiur.v -terns crowing from 
the same rout. lormir;.'- a tuit. or tussock. 

CliciJ-'. A dry memurane.— usua:Jy tlie 
small husks, "or seed-covt-rs. ol the "grass- 
es : a:so the bracts on the receptuAsle of 
many compound and other aggregate 
floAvers. 

C.uiffT. bearing chafi;; also resemblins: 
chatr. 

Chaiiiidf>. Longitudinal grooves: the in- 
terstices between tlie ribs on the Iruit ot 
umbelliferous plants. 

C:iannelltcl: grooved or furrowed. 

C-Kirad-r an Xatuval History . Tne tr-a- 
tures of Objects, or classes d ■ e;-. \'V 
whi'di they are known, and di?Lii;gai;ijcd 
from each other. ■ 

Ghartaceoiis: a textiu'e resembling that of 
paper. i 

Cicatrice. A scar— such as that left at the j 
placo of articulation, iifter the fall of a 
leaf, &c. 

Cilia. Hairs arranged like eye-lashes, along 

the margin of the surface. 
Cdiate: fringed, or edged "with parallel 

hairs, like eye-lashes. 
Ciliate-serraie: having serratures resem 

bling cilia, or short eye lashes. 
Ciliol-n ; diminutive oi tiiiu. ; hairs like 

miniature eyel ashes. 
Chiireous: of" tlie color of ^vood ashes. 
Crcrn^it-: wiih the apex rolled back on 

itself, like the yiung fronds of a fern. 
Circumscissed: "cut round transversely, or 

opening horizontally, like a snutf box 
Cirrhose"; bearing te"ndrils, or terminating 

in a tendril. 
CirrJius. A tendril.— which -x^e. 
C'-a-^s. One of the liigher or primary divi- 
sions of plants, or other natural objects, in 

s svstematic arrangement. 
Cldv'ute: club-shaped: thicker towards the 

summit, or outer end. 
Clavellate: in the tVu-m of a little club.— i. 

e. larger at summit. 
Claw of. a petal. The slender tapering por- 
tion at base, or below the middle. 
Ceft: split, or' divided, less than half w.a^- to 

the base ; sometimes the division itseh' is 

called a ' h;ft. 
C/'/;/^ .'t-: in the form of an ancient shield or 

buckler. 

Co . t iiieous flowers : appearing at the same 
time with the leaves. 

Codi'date: contracted, or crowded into a 
narrow compass. 

Coccus (plural cocci). A kind of semi- 
baccate indehiscent carpel. 

CocM^ale: coiled like a snail-shell. 

Coherent: united wUh an organ of the same 



kind.— as stamen? coherent -with eaek 

other. l\:c. ?ee ad'terent. 
L'Ai'-u-i\i, : placed side by side: or on tba 

sanie >r;e el ariother orcran, 
C uin/'td: 01 any otuer color than green. 
< o:unitha: a attle column. 
ioiirrnn. The axis or central pillar of a 

capsule; or the combined iiiaments. and 

style ol a Gynandrous or Orchidaceous 

i'.-ina: a terminal tuft of hair, bracts. iL:c. 
c - , / ■ ; /'t. 1 he line of junction of two 
L>e ;:!.-.— as the face of the carpels (or 

■ : /7 ■ . in rMBELLirEE.-F. 

' " i ; M.-rir.l,;.. -[Mj.i-jricle. occ."): belonging 

. - - e^ai Mmilar subordi- 

C '///e..f,- having a tuft or topknot of hairs, 
tracts, or leaves, at summit or at I'ue end. 
' "i,:p h_t: condensed or pressed together. 
' ../,;/'/-r,. il'jwer : having both calyx and 
vai. 

L'jnij.:: und : not simple, — but made up of 
similar simple parts. 

Corn-pound jioicer. An aggregated cluster, 
or iiead of syngenesious florets, seated on 
a common receptacle, and embraced by 
an involucre, or many leaved, common 
calvx. 

( ^ '' f C Ti-isting of several leaf- 

ii 1 e n articulated with the 
common peiio.e. and ultimately falling 
trom It. 

Compound Pistil. Consisting of 2 or more 
carpels, or simple ovaries^ cohering to- 
gether. 

Lurapound rrrdeJ. An Umbel in which 
each primary peduncle, or ray, bears a 
small umbel at summit. 

Conrpressed; flatted, as if squeezed or press- 
ed. 

LonsGve: xjresentmg a hollow or depressed 
surlace. 

Concentric lavers. or circles. Circles of 
different sizes, or diameters, with a com- 
mon centre. 

C' (cft^'r ji ^ ■^'ijeiher. or united. 

H I 1 I * ibled lengthwise, or fold- 
el t _ 1 a sheet of paper, or the 
leave; of a b.iek. 

Cone. The wnodv ament of the Pines. 

Come. Conicod. or Conoid; having the fig- 
ure of a cone. 

CnDfinent: bk-nded. or running together; 
turmmg a uinction. 

( A p] mt I elonging to the same 

111} 1 elated. 

' : / ffr'.- clustered or heaped together. 

( 1 1 pan - . coupled. 

( I t r liuti leaves; their bases unit- 
ed round the stem. 

c uiincttr: gi-owmg totrether. or cohering. 

iDnnectire. or L onnedlvu-rn . The organ 
which connects the two cells of an anther, 
— conspicuous m some of the Labiat.'". 

Lonn irent : the summits meeting, or bend 
ing towards f ach other. 



GL055AET. 



419 



Conslani: invariable ; also neTer failing, or 
wanting-. 

Contiguous: so near as to seem to touch. 
Continuous: without interruption, or aillc- 
ulation. 

Contorted: twisted; or ohliquelv overlap- 
pinsr. 

Contracted: narrowed, or reduced into a 

smaller compass. 
Contrary dissepiment. Xot parallel, but 

at right angles, or nearly so, with the 

Talves of the pericarp. 
Convex; presenting an elevated rounded 

sorface. 

Con volute: rolled into a cylindrical form. 
Cordate; heart-shaped, Aviih the sinus or 

notch at the base. 
Cordate-oblong; oblong, with a cordate 

base. 

Coriaceous: tough and leather like. 

Corm, or Conyrii-s. A fleshy subterraneous 
stem, of a round or oval figure, and an 
uniform compact texture, as in Ar um, or 
Indian Turnip. 

Corneous: having the consistence or appear- 
ance of horn. 

Corn'iculate: having little horns or spurs. 

Corniite; having appendages like horns. 

CorbUa. The delicate inner covering of 
the flower, between the calyx and sta- 
mens, mostly colored. 

Coroniform: in the shape of a crown. 

Corrugated: contracted into wrinkles. 

Cortical: belonging to the bark. 

Corticate ; clothed with bark. 

Corymb. A mode of flowedng : a kind of 
raceme, with the lower peduncles elongat- 
ed so as to form a level top. 

Corymhose: in the manner of the Corj-mb. 

Corymhulose; having the flowers in little 
corymbs. 

Costate; ribbed. 

Cotyledons. The seed-lobes, or first crude 
leaves of a plant, — formed in the seed : 
and «)metimes becoming green leaves in 
vegetation. 

Craterijorm: in the form of a cup or bowl, 
or hemispherical cup. 

Creeping; running along the ground, and 
putting forth sniall roots. 

0"6/ia?€;'notched on the edge, with the seg- 
ments rounded, and not inclining towards 
either extremity. 

Crenulat^; very fine'y crenate. 

Cre-sted; having an appendage resembling 
a cock's comb. 

Crisp; curled, or wavy at the edges. 

Criitate; crested : having a crest. 

Cross; oi ei^oss-bmd. A hybrid or mule, 
— ^produced by the- mixing of two nearly 
allied species. 

Crotcded; thickly set; standing in close 
order. 

Crotch. A circular series of petaloid ap 
pendages at the throat of a corolla: also 
of chafFy scales at the summit of ao 
akene. 



Croicned; having appendages resembling u 
crown. 

Cr iuiat^. or cruciform; having 4 petals ar- 
ranged in form of a cross. 

Crustaceou^i: having a dry brittle snell. 

Cryptogamous plants. Plants which are 
destitute of visible genuine flowers. 

Cucidlate; in the form of a cowl ; the 
edges rolled in so as to meet at base, and 
spreading above,— like a hood thrown 
back. 

Culm. The stem of the Grasses, and Cy- 

peraceous plants. 
Cuneate, or cuneiform; wedge-shaped; 

tapering with straight edges to the base 
Cupule. The cup-like involucre of the 

acorn, &c, 
Ciisp. A stiffish tapering sharp point, 
Ciisjiidate; tapering to "a straight stiffisb 

sharp point. 
Cuticle. The outer skin, — ^usually thin and 

membranaceous. 
Cydthifann: top shaped and hollowed at the 

summit like a cup. 
Cylindric; long, round and of uniform 

diameter. 

Cyme. A kind of panicle, depressed near- 
ly to the form of an umbel. — with the 
principal peduncles rising from the samo 
centre, but the subdivisions irregular. 

Cymose; with the flowers in cymes, or ap- 
proaciiing that form, 

Cym ules. " The reduced cymes, or cy- 
mose clusters, of the Lauiat^; some- 
times called VerticiUasters. 

Decandrous; having ten distinct stamens. 

Dec iduous; falling off at the usual time, oi 
at the end of the season ; more darabk 
than Caducous, — which see. 

Declinate, or declined; bent off horizontal- 
ly ; or curved downwards. 

Decompound; several times compound. 

Decmnbent; leaning upon the ground, 
with the base only erect. 

Decurrence. A running or extending 
down, or backwards. 

Deeiirrent leaf. "When the two edges are 
continued do^Ti the stem, like wings. 

Deciis-iCiU: growing in opposite pairs and 
alternately crossing each other. 

Delinite; clearly defined, or limited: also 
of a constant or determinate (and not 
large) number. 

DffieLtid; bent off, or downwards. 

i>e/i?-^c^?if,- gaping or opening naturally by 
seams, at maturity. 

Deltoid; triangular in the outline,— like the 
Greek letter Delta. 

Demersed; growing or being under water. 

Dense; closely an-anged: compact. 

Dentate; toothed; edged with tooth-like 
projections. 

Denticulate; having very small teeth. 

Depauperate; with a starved or stunt8<[ 
inflorescence: few-flowered. 

Depressed; flatted vertically, or pressed 
down at summit. 



420 



GLOSSAET. 



Depresscd-glo'bose; globular, -with the base 

and apex flatted. 
Di; in composition, t%vo. 
Piddelphuus; having the filaments united 

in 2 parcels, — usually 9 and 1, with a 

papilionaceous corolla 
Didndrous; having 2 stamens. 
Didphanoiis ; transparent ; i^ermitting light 

to pass through. 
Dicliotomal flower. Situated in the fork 

of a dichotomous stem or branch. 
Dichciomous; forked ; regularly divided 

and subdivided, in two equal branches. 
Diclinous; having the stamens and pistils 

in distinct flowers, — whether on the same 

or difl'erent plants. 
Dicotyledonous plants. "Where the em- 
bryo has 2 lobes, or cotyledons. 
I>idymous', twin; growing in pairs and 

more or less united. 
Didynamous; having 2 long and 2 shorter 

stamens, mostly in"a bilabiate, ringent, or 

personate corolla. 
Diffuse; spreading widely in a loose irrcg 

ular manner. 
Digitate leaf. "Where a simple petiole 

connects several distinct leaflets, _^';i(7er- 

like, at its summit, — as in the' Horse 

Chestnut. 

D'lgynous; having 2 pistils, or 2 distinct 
stigmas. 

Dilated; made wider ; stretched or ex- 
panded. 

Dimerous; composed of two parts, — as a 
dimerous calyx or corolla, when there are 
2 sepals or petals. 

Dimidiate; halved, — as if one side, or half 
had been cut off. 

Dingy; of a dull, soiled, smoky, or Icadcn- 
brown color. 

Dijtcious ; or Dio'icous, having staminate 
and pistillate flowers on distinct plants. 

Dixciously, or Dioicously polygamous; 
having perfect and imperfect flowers on 
different plants. 

Dipi.talous; having 2 petals. 

Discoid flower, or head. A disk of com- 
pound flowers, without ray-florets. 

Disepalous; having 2 sepals. 

Diak. The surface of the leaf; also the 
face, or central part, of a head of com- 
pound flowers. 

Dissected; cut into segments, or lobes. 

Dissepiment. The partition between the 
cells of seed-vessels. 

Distant; having a larger intervening space 
than usual. 

D'lstichotis; two-rowed; bearing leaves, 

flowers, &c. in 2 opposite rows. 
Distinct; separate ; not connected with 

each other, nor with any contiguous 

organ. • 
Divaricate branches. Spreading so as to 

form more than a right angle wilh the 

stem above. 
Divergent; spreading widely ; making a 

right-angle, or nearly so, with the stem. 



Divided; separated, or cleft to the base,— 

or to the midrib, if a leaf 
Dorsal; belonging to, or growing on, the 

back. 

Dorsal suture. The line or seam on the 
back of a carpel, or folded leaf, — being at 
the place of the midrib ; the opposite of 
central suture, — which see. 

Dorsally compressed ; flatted on the back. 

Dots. Minute tubercles, or specks. 

Dotted; covered with dots, specks, or mi- 
nute and slightly elevated points. 

Downy; clothed with soft fine hairs. 

Drooping; inclining downwards, more than 
nodding. 

Drupaceous; drupe-like, — of a structure 
resembling a drupe, or what is usually 
called stone-fruit. 

Drujje. A fleshy, succulent, or spongy 
pericarp, without valves, containing" a 
1 or 2 seeded nut, or stone. 

Drupel. A little drupe ; a constituent por- 
tion of a compound berry,— such as that 
of Eulius. 

E, or Ex; in composition ; destitute of ; not 

furnished with. 
Ehrdcteate ; destitute of bracts. 
Einbracteolate; destitute of bractlets. 
Ecaudate; destitute of a cauda, or tail. 
Ech'inate; hedgehog-like; covered with 

prickles. 

E letters. Minute, club-shaped filaments, 
Avhich are coiled round the spores of cer- 
tain cryptogamous plants,— and by un- 
rolling assist in dispersing those spores. 

Elliptic, or elliptical; oval; longer than 
wide, with the two ends narrowing 
equally. 

Elongated; exceeding the usual or average 
length. 

E longating; becoming gradually and final- 
ly elongated. 

Emdrginate; having a notch or sinus at the 
end. 

Emhryo. The young plant in the rudi- 
mentary state, as it exists in the seed. 

Emersed; raised out of water. 

Endocarp. That membranous or bony 
portion of the pericarp which lines the 
cavity, or forms the cells for the seeds 
{ex. gr. the stone, or hard shell, in a 
Drupe). 

EndogenotisT^'\a.-nts. Those which have a 
single cotyledon, — and grow by central 
deposites of new matter, distending or 
pushing the older deposites outwards. 

Endogens. Inside-growers; plants Avlsich 
increase by central* or internal deposites 
of new matter. Sec Endogenous plants. 

Ennednd.rous; having 9 stamens. 

Ensiform; sword-sliaped ; two-edged aiid 
tapering from base to apex. 

Entire; having a continuous even margin ; 
without incision, notch, or tooth. 

Envelope. An intescument, or covering. 

Ephemeral; diurnal ; enduring one day 
only 



GLOSSAET. 



421 



Erpicarp; Ihe outer coating of the peri- 
carp, or frnit. 

Spidermis: the outer skin or cuticle. 

Epig.tan; situated, or rising, above ground. 

Epirjynous; adnate to tlie ovary so that 
the upper portion is apparently "inserted 
on its summit, — as sepals, petals, and 
more especially stamens ; exempMed in 
Uinbdlifera and Arcdiace^. 

Eijipetalous; inserted on the petals. 

Eiml; similar parts equal among them- 
selves,— as calyx-segments, sepals, petals, 
stamens, &c. 

Epiphytea; air plants having no immediate 
connexion with the earth, but growing on 
the stem of other plants. 

Eqaitant leaves. When alternate distichous 
leaves are infolded lengthwise and towards 
each other, the outer ones inclosing or 
embracing the inner. 

Erect ovules, or seeds. When they arise 
from the bottom of the ovary, or base of 
the cell, and point upwards. 

Eroded, or erose; irregularly notched, as if 
gnawed by insects. 

E-iculent; eatable; fit or safe to be eaten. 

Etiolation; the blanching of plants, — or 
rendering them white by the exclusion of 
light; as practised \\it\\Celery, Endive, &c. 

Eoanescent; disappearing; speedily vanish- 
ing. 

Ecen pinnate leaf. "With the leaflets all 

in pairs or without a terminal odd one; 

ofted termed (Lhruptly-pinnate. 
Evergreen; continuing green, and persisting 

all the year. 
Exalburainous ; destitute of albumen. 
Eccentric; deviating from the axis, or 

centre. 

Exfoliate; to throw off layers or plates, — as 
bark, &c. 

ExogenouH plants. Those which have 2 (or 
sometimes more) cotyledons, — and grow 
by annual layers of wood (or new matter) 
on the outside, between the old wood and 
bark. 

Exogens; outside growers ; plants which 
increase by anrual additions to the out- 
side. Sec Exogenous plants. 

Exsert ov exs-e rted ; projecting, or protrud- 
ing out, — as stamens from tlie tube of the 
corolla. 

Exst'i.pulate; destitute of stipules. 

Extrorse anthers. Having the cells turned 
outwards, or from the pistils, — and the 
filament, or connective, extended up the 
inner side. 

Falcate; sickle shaped; curved like a 
sickle, or scythe. 

Family of plants. A definite group of 
kindred plants, called also an Order, — 
sometimes of numerous genera and species 
-sometimes comprising but a single genus. 

Tan shaped; cuneate below, and spreading 
above, — ^like a lady's far,. 

Farinaceous; mealy ; reducible o a meal- 
like powder. I 



; Fascicle; a little bundle, or bunch, ca 
flowers, leaves, &c., originating from 
nearly the same point. 
Fascicled or Fasciculate; growing in 
bundles, or bunches from the same point. 
Fast'igiate; level-topped ; the summits o/ 
the branches all rising to the same 
height. 

Fdvose; deeply pitted; somewhat like a 

honey-comb. 
Feather veined leaf. "Where the lateral 
veins (or nerves) diverge regularly from 
each iide of the midiib, — like the plu- 
mage of a quill. 
Ferrugijious; of the color of rust of iron ; 

reddish-brown. 
Fertile; having perfect pistils, and produc- 
ing fruit. 

Fibrous; composed of fibres, or thread like 

processes. 
Fide; on the faith, or authority, of. 
Filament ; that part of the stamen 
(usually thread like) which supports the 
anther. 

Filiform; very slender and terete, like a 
thread. 

Fimhrix ; fringes, or fringe-like pro- 
cesses. 

Fimhriate; finely divided at the edge, 

like a fringe. 
Fimbrillate; clothed with fimljrillae (i. c., 
membranaceous, linear or subulate fila- 
ments) — as the receptacle of thistles, &c. 
Fissure; a slit, crack, or narrow opening. 
Fistular, or Fistulous; hollow and terete. 

like a pipe, tubular. 
Flahelliform; fan shaped, — which see. 
Flaccid; so limber as to bend by its own 
weight. 

Flagelliform; long, slender, and pliable, — 

like a whip lash. 
Flexuose; serpentine, or with a sitccession 

of short alternating curves. 
Fi'^^ccose; ovflocculen t; covered with flocks, 
flakes, or little matted bunches of partly 
detached tomentum. 
Floral; belonging to, or situated near a 
flower. 

Floral envlopes ; the verticils, or cover- 
ings of flowers, — usually known as calyx 
and corolla; sometimes as chaff. 
Floret; a little flower; usually one of the 
number in compound or aggregated flow- 
ers. 

Floriferous; bearing flowers. 
Folidceous, of a leaf-like form and texture ; 

resembling a leaf. 
Foliole; a leaflet in a compound leaf. 
Folicle; a capsular fruit, opening longitu- 
dinally by a suture on one side. 
FoUicular; resembling, constructed like, or 

being, a folicle. 
Foramen (plural, foramina); a roundish 

hole, or opening. 
Foreolate; pitted. 

Free; not adhering to each other, nor to any 
I adjacent organ. 



422 



GLOSSAKY. 



F/wi(7(75e, loafr.cr ■with leaf like appendages. 
Fructification j the flower and fruit, with 

their parts. 
Fruit ; the mature ovary or seed-vessel, 

and its contents. 
Frutescent; becoming shrubby, or hard and 

Vy^oody. 

Fi^ticose; shrub-like, or shrubby. 

Frutiiculose ; like a little shrub. 

Fugacioxis; fleeting ; of short duration. 

Fulvous; tawny, fox or tan-colored. 

Fungous; of rapid growth and soft tex- 
ture, like the fungi. 

Funiculus ; the little cord by which seeds 
are attached to the placenta. 

F unnel form; tubular below, and expand- 
ing above— like a funnel. 

Fixrcate; forked. 

Furfnrdceous; scaly, or scurfy, like bran 
or dandruff. 

Fvsc&as; greyish brown, or deep brown, 
with a tinge of green. 

Fusiform; spindle-shaped; terete and ta- 
pering to a point. 

Galea; a helmet ; the arched upper lip of 
a ringent corolla. 

Gdleate; helmeted; resembling a casque, 
or helmet. 

Gamopetalous; having the petals all more 
or less united, — forming what is called 
(rather incorrectly) a monopetalous co 
rolla. 

Gamosepalous; having the sepals all more 
or less united, — forming a monosepalous 
calyx. 

Geminate ; in pairs. 

Generic: pertaining or relating to a genus 

6^mic«Za^e; forming an angle at the joints, 
like a bent knee. 

Genus (plural genera): a group of species 
which agree with each other in the struc- 
ture or essential characters of the flower 
or fruit; sometimes a genus comprises 
hut a single species. 

Germ: the growing part of a bud. 

Germen; the old name for the ovary. 

Germinalion; the sprouting, or incipient 
growth, of a seed. 

Gibboiis: hunched, or swelled out, on one 
or both sides. 

Glabrous; very smooth, without any rough- 
ness or pubescence. 

Gland ; a small roundish organ, or append- 
age, which often secretes a fluid. 

Glandular; furnished with glands. 

Gland ular-Jtispid^ or glandidnr-pnlies- 
cent; hairy or pubescent, and the hairs 
tipped with glands. 

Glaucescent; "inclining to, or becoming, 
glaucous. 

Glaucous; silvery: pale-bluish, or greenish- 
white ; covered with a greenish white 
mealiness. 

Globose, or globular; spherical; round on 
all sides. 

Glomerate; densely clustered in small 
heaps, ir irregular beads. 



Glomerules; sm.dl dense, roundish clus- 
ters. 

Glumacecus; chaff like; resembling chaff 
or glumes. 

Glumes; the bracts, or outer chaff, em- 
bracing the spikelets of the grasses (calyx, 
of Linn.). See Palea. 

Glutinoits; yiscii; covered with an adhe- 
sive fluid. 

Grain ; fruit of the true gi-asses, sometimes 
called a caryopsis. 

Gramineous; grass-like; resembling grasses. 

Graniferous; bearing a grain, or grains. 

C^raw-wiar; formed of grains or small parti- 
cles. 

Gymnospermous; having the seeds naked, 
— i. e. not inclosed in a pericarp. 

Gyndndroiis; having the stamens gi'owing 
on, or adhering to, the pistil. 

Gynacium; a term designating the pistil- 
late portion of the flower, ox the seed- 
bearing organs, collectively. 

Gynostegiym; the pistil-cover or tube 
formed by the connate filaments, in the 
Asclepias family. 

Habit of plants. Their general external 
appearance and mode of gi'owth, by which 
they are recognized at sight. 

Habitat, or habitatio; the natural or na- 
tive place of growth. 

Halved: one sided,— as if one half had been 
cut off. 

Hastate; shaped like a halbert; lanceolate, 
with a divaricate lobe on each side of the 
base. 

Head; a dense roundish cluster of sessile 
flowers. 

Heptandroiis; having 7 stamens. 

Herbaceous; not woody ; of a tender con 
sistence, and usually destructible by frost. 

Herbarium : a collection of dried speci- 
mens of plants. 

Herbs: plants Avhich are not woody — of a 
more tender structure than trees and 
shrubS; and usually killed by frost. 

Heterogamous heads ; heads of Sj-ngene 
sious flowers, containing florets of differ- 
ent structure and sexual character. 

Heterophyllous; having leaves of different 
forms. 

Hexdmerous; consisting of 6 parts. 
Hexandrous; having 6 stamens of equal 
length. 

Hilum : the scar left on a seed, at the point 
of attachment to the funiculus. 

Hirsute; rough-haired ; clothed with stifiish 
hairs. 

Hispid: bristly: beset with rigid, spreading, 
bristle-like hairs. 

Hoary: covered -with a white or whitish pu- 
bescence. 

Homogamous heads. Heads of Syngene- 
sious flowers, in which all the florets are 
of similar structure and the same sexual 
character. 

Hooded. See cucullat''. 

Horizontal ovules. When they project 



GLOSSAKT. 



423 



from the ?:" e 7 ointing neither ' 

to base : ^ - \ 

Uorji: c I " ;! _ r_.-:ioii resemhiing ' 

a h trn. ^ : : \ ; 
Horny: o:" : : or consistence like 

horn. S - : . . 
Wurau^. The niOLi; > r ^ i , : rr\ : " 7 > 

decomposition 01 vo_- 
ZT'/a^/'ic.- transparent. . - 
LI : fo; 0 



ing, tm.'. .r I 
Hi/pogijiiL ... ; 1 beneath the- ovary.' 

— i.e.. on ictcptacle, and Ii'ee iron. 

the sun-ounding organs. 
Icosandrou-i: hasdng ahont 20 stamen-, 

which are fieriiynons. — i. e.. growing t". 

or apparently inserted on the rim ot the 

ca'.yx. 

Imbricate, OT imbricated: tl.-: ~ ' n 
closely and regularly over ti. 
— like' shingles on "a roof. .. 
fish. 

Imperfect flower ; when either stamens or 
pistils are deficient. 

Liciried: cut or gashed; separated by inci- 
sions. 

Tnclinat^. or inclined: bent over towards 
the ground, or some other object. ; 

Incliided; wholly contained within a tube, } 
or cavity: the "opposite of e-'i'-'!t^rt=d. 

Incomplete flower : when either Calyx or 
Corolla is wanting. 

Tiicrassate: thickened upwards, or towards 
the summit. 

Tacumhent: lying upon, against, or across. 

Incurnhent &ntheT. Attached at or n^ar it- 
middle, and lying horizontally acr ;-- : 
summit of the fi'ament. 

Incumheiit cotylfdons. Having tht r ; 
bent over and appiie l t- ti . b • ; • : - 
of the cotyledons r . . ly this 

signo 

Incurred: bent or carve 1 in v^r is. 
Indef.nite: not distinctly limited, or de 

fined : numerous, and of no constant or 

determinate number. 
LidtJi-i'<c^nt: not opening at matirrity. 
ladig^noas : native : crowing naturally, or 

originaily in a country. 
laduijlirnfe: folded inwards. 
h-'Jurat^d; hardened: become hard. 
Inur'nr calyx. Having the ovary above, 

and free frijm the calyx. 
Irjerior ovary. Situated ar>parent]y Ivt-iow 

the calj'x. or rather it- - ■ — 

adn/ite'to the tube of • 

Strqnently bearing tlj ; .: 
i'- - tmmit. 
T - ' distended or swelled like a blown 

l.-^-' j-^, or infierj-ed; bent suddenly in- 
wards. 

tniiort^iCfnce. The dL~po.=ition or arrange 
mcnts of flowers and their footstalks on a 



plant.— such as L'mbeL Panicle, rvaceu > 
etc. 

Innate anther; erect, having its base resting 

directly on the apex of the filament 
Ii-'iei'ted : fixed upon, or growing out of. 
I.iternode. That portion of a culaj, or 

stem, between :. ' - r joints. 
/ " I'peti' Jar st: - .tted or origi- 

: ating betwet::. ^ . ^cS of opposite 

b.2ves. 

'1 rupted : having intervals : or the con- 
::;ituty broken. 
I:d-::-ru]yttdJ]j pin^-ate: having sm.auer 
pAnnx. or leaflets, between each pair of 
larger ones. 



Having the cells turned 
it. ; .-. . t v.ards the'pistils. — and the 
t: t.t. ur connective, extending up the 
r.ter side. 

- ;7 .• in a contrary position ; end for 
i. r npside down. 
7 '. The verticil of leaflets at the 

t t.n umbellet. 
Tv, - J .• having involucels. 
In rducrati ; having an involucre. 
IiLVolaci-e. An assemblage of morlified 
leaves accompanying certain forms of 
inflorescence, — usuaily verticillate at the 
base of an Umbel. — or in imbricated 
seri:-s beneath or around the heads of 
r;g_"-ei-i;:c-d flowers. 
I '• ' .'1 .• rolled inwards. 

' ■ ,■ the component parts differing 
- t ;d shape. 

.\ ; jugitudinal central ridge on the 
. ic 'jf a leaf, sepal, itc, resembling the 
i-.el of a boat: also, the lower" pair 
i' united petals in a papilionaceous 
riower. 

A"'. I d : havin? a keel. See Carinate. 
K<rnd : the nncleus, or seed contained 
in a nut. 

Kn'.f : a no'le : a solid, inseparable, and 
often swelling joint, — as in the stem oi 
the grasses, vtc." 

LacK'-'iti: ; divided into iiTCgular segments 
as if Torn. 

Lac'rni .dK : jagged: the margin iiTeguIarly 

cut into unequal segments. 
Lactescent ; milky : "containing a milky or 

whitish nice. 
Lfirunose : pitted, furrowed, or having 

little cavities. 
Z ^ - '^e ; divided or dilated into thin 

a thin layer or plate : the ex- 
l :.r 11-.; or flat portion of a leaf, or petal - 
as distinguished from the petiole, or cla-a-, 
Lanate : woolly: clothed with wool. 
Z "o f(= .■ tapering grndnaily from near 
- to the apex. — like the head of an 
. . Lance, or Spear. 
;. ;,..,.-:< ; tar Lance- ovate, &:q., linear. 



424 



GLOSriAKY. 



ovate, &c., with something of tiic lance- 
olate form. ' 

Lance ovoid; egg-shaped, with a swelling 
base and tapering apex. 

LanuginoiLS ; clothed with a loose wool. 

Lateral ; at the side. 

Laterally compressed; flatted on the 

sides ; the lateral edges pressed towards 

each other 
Tmx ; loose, or limber ; not compact. 
Leaflets. Partial leaves; the constituent 

leaves of a compound leaf. 
Leaf-liJce {foliaceous); having a texture 

and expansion resembliag a loaf. 
Leafy (foliosiis); furnished or abounding 

with leaves. 
Legume, A Bean,— or fruit formed of a 

single carpel of 2 valves, with the seeds 

affixed along the upper suture, only. 
Legiuniiious ; having the structure of a 

Legume ; bearing or producing the fx-uit 

called a Legume, or Bean. 
Le/iticii'a)^ ; having the form of a lens: 

orbicular and compressed, but convex on 

both faces. 

Lif/neous; woody; of a firm woody tex- 
ture. 

Li;/nesce-nt; becoming somewhat woody. ' 

Ligulate, strap-shaped, o? ribband-shaped ; 
flat and linear. 

Ligule; the usually membranous appen- 
dage at the base of the leaf, or summit 
of the sheath, in the grasses. 

Limb: the sumit of a monosepalous calyx ; 
or the upper spreading part of a mono- 
petalous corolla. 

Z^ ie,- the twelfth part of an inch. 

Linear: of an uniform width; long and 
narrow w-itl> parallel sides. 

Linear lanceolut', ; partaking of both 
forms, but more of the latter. 

Lip: the upp&r or under division of a 
labiate flower; or the loM-er perianth- 
seg-ment of many Orchidaceous flowers. 

Lobe: the division, or segmeat, of a petal, 
or leaf : the free portion of a gamopeta- 
ious corolla. 

/yobate, or lobed: cut or divided into lobes. 

LyOCuU'Sidal dehiscence ; when the peri- 
carp opens naturally on the back of a 
cell (J. e. at the dorsal suture) dh-ectly 
into the cavity. 

Loment: an indehiscent 2- or several- 
seeded legume, contra-cted between each 
seed, and'tinally separating at the joint- 
like contractions. 

Lomentdceom legume, or pod; apod of 
2 or more seeds, with a joint-like con- 
traction, or transverse partition, between 
the seeds. 

Longitudinal; lengthwise; parallel with 
the axis, or in a direction from the base 
towards the summit or apex. 

Lunate or lunulate; having the figure of a 
new moon. 

r.utiscent; yellowish. 

Lyrate; lyre-shaped; pinnatifld, with the 



terminal segmei, largest and moetiy 
rounded. 

3larn iUate ; conical, with a rounded apex. 
Marcescent; withering and shrivalling on 

the stem, instead of "falling off. 
Margin. The edge or circumference of a 

loaf, or other expansion ; also, the thia 

wing-like border of certain seeds, kc. 
Marginal; belonging to, or situated at, the 

margin. 

Marginate OT margined; hAving a border 
or edging of a texture or color different 
from that of the disk ; surrounded by a 
wing-like expansion, or narrow mem- 
brane. 

Medidlary rays. Bands or thin plates of 
cellular "tissue, which pass from the pith 
to the baa-k, in woody stems. 

Melliferous: producing or containing honey. 

Membranaceous.! or mernbranoiis; thin, 
flexible, and often slightly translucent. 

Mericarp; a name given to the indehis- 
cent carpel of ihe Umbellifek j. 

Micropyle: the small foramen, or open- 
ing in the proper coats of a seed, to which 
the radicle always points. 

Midrib. The main central nerve of a leaf, 
apparently a continuation of the petiole. 

Monadelplious; having the filaments all 
united in one set, usually forming a tube. 

Mondndrous: having a single stamen. 

Mono; in composition ; one or single. 

Mon'diform; arranged like, or resembling 
the beads of a necklace. 

j[/(;?ioc7/?i02^s; having the stamens and pis- 
tils in the same flower. 

Monocotyledonous plants. Where the em- 
bryo lias but a single lobe, or cotyledon. 

Monograph. A description (usually am- 
ple and elaborate) of a single thing, or 
class of things, as of a Genus, Tribe, or 
Family, &c. 

Monogynoiis\ having but one pistil. 

MoiiLcious, or Monoijous; having stami- 
nate and pistillate flowers distinct, but on 
the same plant. 

3Io need oust y or monnicously pjolygamous; 
having perfect and imperfect flowers on 
the same plant. 

Monopetalous: having but one petal ; or, 
more correctly, the petals united into 
one. See gamopetalous. 

Monopliyllous; consisting of a single leaf. 

2Lonosepalous; consisting of one~scpal, or 
rather, several sepals united more or less 
completely. See gamosepalous. 

Mucroncite': terminated by a mucro, or 
small projecting point, xisually the pro- 
longation "of the midrib, in leaves. 

Miici^nidate: having a small mucro, or 
terminal projecting point. 

Miiltifid; many-cleft; cut into numerous 
segments. 

Multiple. A number containing another 
number several times without a fraction, 
or remainder; as 9 is a muUiple of 3. 

JLiiltiple fruits. Where there is a comb»- 



GLOSSAET. 



425 



Bation of seroral 3o-^-crs into one aggre- ; 
gace mass, as in the Pine-apple, Mulber 
ry, ^c. 

Murieate: arir.cd or covered v,iili short 
spreading points, or acute excrescences, 
like a Mai-ex. 

Miitic or muticou-s: fiwnless or pointless: 
the opposite of rGucronate. 

leaked: destitute of the usn.-J covering, or 
afipendage, — as a -sttm -svithoiit leaves or 
scales. ?t-a'rc-y vrithout pubescence, corolla \ 
without a calyx or crown, .yte'i-s- Avithout ! 
a pericarp, a recepiacl-i witiiout chafl" or 
hairs, aa umhelv^xxXwaX an involucre, \c. 

2^' d inform; turnip-shaped. i 

Xatural Order, f'amil}-. or tribe. An assc- I 
ciation or group of kindred genera, — or j 
of plants which are nearly related in their | 
structure, and most important characters. | 

Xt'st </-'jrro}i.'<: producing honey. 

Xtdiir]/. That organ, or portion of a flow- 
er which secretes honey : a term formerly 
applied to all disguised or modified forms 
of petals and stamens. 

Xet-vtcJ; having nerves, or coarse rib-like 
fibres. 

Xerves. Eib-like fibres Cm leaves, .^.c.) 

which usually extend from the base to. 

or towards the apex. 
Xe I d r e h\ neutral ^ov,-QT. Having neither 

stamen nor jMSti':. 
Xoddina; Xiixniu'^ downwards; somewhat 

drooping. 

Xode. The knot, or solid and oft^n tumid 

joint of a stem or branch. 
^ocio.v«,- having numerous nodes or tumid 

joints. 

according to rule; agreeing with 

the pattern or typo. 
Xiixijoriii: nut-like: resembling a nut. 
Xndeus. A central body; the seed or 

kernel of a nut. 
Xu'jule^. Little nuts, or nut-like fruit. 
2'<'ut. A hard 1-celled indeliiscent fruit, 

usually containing a single seed. 
0''.- a preposition which inverts the nsu.al 

ir^eaniDi: of the v»-ord to which it is pre 

f.xe.l. ' 

1^ ' : --'Z akenes (in the Composi- 

:-h. with the greatest diam- 
. . i ii'hc to left. — or with the tlat- 
j / - - . - - L J the froit, or periphery of the 

Olcoiii ■: inversely Conical. — i. e.. with the 

rioirit n- apex downwards. 
0',(:r>rdnfr:: heart-form, Avitli the sinus at 

.summit, p.nd the narrowed point at place 

(!t iaseriiun. 
Gil race olate inversely lanceolate. — or with 

the widest part above the middle, and ta- 
pering gradually to the base. 
OlU'iue: a posirixn between horizontal and 
. erect ; also do-criptive of t. e lia-e of a 

le;if, ezc. when it is unequal or produced 

on one side. 
6'6^07ir/: longer than wide, with tl^e sides 

parallel, or"nera-ly so. 



Olovate: inversely orate,— or with the 

troa'lesr ^nd above. 
Ol'Ovnd: inversely ovoid. 
0' ---'rh'ff: indistinct, as if worn out. 

0- f^'Af.- blunt, or rounded. 

0^/r<-/-.s£Zy; turned contrary to the usual po- 
si;ion. 

Ochrei. A membranous stipular sheath, 
embracing the stem like a boot-leg; as in 
Pohjonu7n. etc. 

OchroUucous: yellowisli-white, or cream 
colored. 

Ocinndroiis: having ^ stamens. 

Odd-jji.'i nute l>^:it'. "Having the leaflets in 
opposite pairs, v^-ilh a terminal odd one ; 
often termed irupari-jiiimate. 

OffiAnal^ used in, or belonging to, a shop, 
or medical otiice. 

Oleraceous; of the nature or quality of pot- 
herbs. 

Opnque: not transparent. 

Optrcxd.nr; opening like a lid that is fijxed 
by a hinge at one side. 

Opi'O-rlte; situated directly against each 
otlier, or at the same height, on contrary 
sides of the srem. 

Orli'Ad circular and flat, like a coin : the 
length and breadth equal and the circum- 
fereiDce an even circular line: a term appli- 
ed to leaves, or flatted bodies. See Terete. 

Order. A family or group of allied natural 
oLjects: a subdivision of a Class, embrac- 
ing kindred Genera. 

Ordinal: belonging to the Orders, or to an 
Order. 

Ordinal names. The names of the Xatuial 
Orders, or families of plants. 

OrtJiotropous oxuXq ciT seed. Straight: not 
curved, or turned from its original or 
natural direction. 

Oval; longer than broad, with the two ends 
of equal breadth and curvature, and the 
sides curving from end to end. 

Ovarij. TheV*:'"Dg seed-vessel, or fruit; 
the hollow portion at the base of the pis- 
til, containing the ovules., or bodies des- 
tined to become seeds. 

Ovate; flat, with the outline of a longitudi- 
nal section of an Egg; a somewhat oval 
figure, but broader near the base. 

Ovate-lanceolate; lanceolate, inclining to 
ovate at base. 

Ovate-ollong; oblong, with an ovate dilata- 
tion near the base." 

01- oif?; -egg-shaped; terete, and swelling 
near the base — i. <?., having the outline ol 
an entire egg. 

Ovoid-ollong ; the ovoid form lengthened 
out. 

Ovu'es. The rudiments of future seeds, 
contained in the Ovaru, or young fruit. 

Pcdate. The prominence in the lower lip 
of a personate corolla. 

Fal'-a (plural pal ce). Chaff: a term ap- 
plied to the inner, or immediate floral 
covering ^if the Grasses. (Corolla oi 
Linn). See Glumes. 



426 



GLOSSARY. 



Paleaceous: chalFy ; of s oliaffy texture, — 
or furnished with cliaff-Iike scales. 

Palmate; hand-shaped; deeply divided, 
•n-ith the segments nearly equal and 
spreading like fingers on the open hand. 

Palmately veined, or cleft,— having the 
veins or segments divergent, like the 
spreading fingers of an open hand. 

Panduriform: tiddle-shaped ; oblong, Avith 
the sides contracted, like a violin. 

Panicle. A loose irregular compound ra- 
ceme, — in Avhich the peduncles are un- 
equally elongated and variously and ir- 
regularly subdivided ; as in Oats, &c. 

Panicled, or paniculate; disposed in. the 
form of a panicle. 

Papilionaceous corolla. Butterfly-shaped; 
-when complete, consisting of 5 petals, — 
the upper one (mostly largest) called the 
vexillum or banner,— the 2 lateral ones 
termed the alae or -vvlngs, — the 2 lower 
ones more or less cohering by their lower 
margins, and from their form, denomina- 
ted the keel. 

Papillate, ov p)o.pjMlose: having the surface 
covered with fleshy dots, or points, like 
minute teats. 

Pappus. The crown of the fruit,— being 
the segments, or free portion of an adhe- 
rent calyx, in the Composit.t', and some 
other plants,— usually hairy-like or plu- 
mose, — sometimes in the form of minute 
chaff or scales. 

Parasite. A ])lant gi-owing on, or deriving 
sustenance from, anothej" plant ; as Dod 
der, Mistletoe, &c. 

Parasitic; being or relating to, a Parasite. 

Parmchyma. "The soft "spongy cellular 
tissue (often green), which forms the 
pith of stems, the pulp of leaves and 
young fruit, and fills the interstices of 
woody or vascular fibres. 

Paries (plural, parietef^). The outside 
wall, or enclosing shell, which circmn- 
scribes the cavity of a pericarp. 

Parietal; aflixed to, or belonging to, the 
paries or outer wall of the seed-cell of a 
pericarp. 

Parietal placentas. When ihe placentaj 
are borne upon the icaJl •, instead of the 
axis, of the ovary or pericarp. 

Parted; divided deeply, almost to the 
base. 

Partial; a term applied to constituent-por- 
tions of a compound whole. 

Partition. See Dissepiment.^ 

Patelrform; in the form of little plates 
or dishes. 

Pectinate; finely, regularly and deeply 
cleft, so as to resemble "the teeth of a 
comb. 

Pedate leaf. Like a bird's foot ; divided 
nearly to the petiole in narrow segments, 
with the lateral ones diverging. 

pedicel. A partial peduncle ; the ultimate 
branch or division (next to the flower, or 
fruit), in a compouad infloreeeence. 



Pedicellate; having, or being supported 

on a pedicel. 
Peduncle; a simple floAver stem ; also the 

common foot stalk of a compound infio- 

resence. 

Pedunculate; havinga peduncle; not sessile. 

Pellucid; transparent; pervious to light. 

Pellucid-punctate ; having punctures 
which permit light to pass through. 

Peltate; like a shield; having the footstalk 
aflixed to the under surface, and not to 
the margin. 

Pencil-form; resembling a painter's pen- 
cil or little brush. 

Pendulous; hanging down ; attached at 
one end, and swinging loosely. 

Pend^ilo^hs ovules or seeds ; when their di- 
rection is downwards. 

Penicillate; tipped or tufted with hair?, 
like a painter's pencil. 

Penni-nerted leaf. Having the lateral 
nerves pinnately arranged, or feather- 
like. See Feather-reined. 

Pentagoncd; having 5 angles or corners. 

Pentugynous; having 5 pistils. 

Pentamerous; composed of 5 parts. 

Pentdndrous; having 5 stamens. 

Pentapeialous; having 5 petals. 

Penultimate; next to the last; the one 
next to the terminal one. 

Pepo; an indehiscont, fleshy or internally 
pulpy fruit, usually composed of 3 oar- 
pels invested by the calyx tube, and -vvith 
a firm rind ; as the Melon, &c. 

Perctirrent; extending or running the 
whole way through. 

Pe/vn?2^(7Z,-" living "more than tM'o years, 
and for an indefinite period. 

Per/^f^ flower ; having both stamen and 
pistil (1 or more of each), and producing 
fruit. 

Pirfoliate; having the stem apparently 
pierced through the leaf. 

Perianth; a term for the envelopes of a 
flower, where the calyx and corolla are 
not clearly distinguishable. 

Pericarp; the seed-vessel, or fruit; the 
ovary in a mature state. 

Perigonium; a name for the envelope of 
the flower, — said to be doulle when there 
is both calyx and corolla, but often used 
synonymously with Pei iavth. which see. 

Perigynium; the sac (formed by the union 
of 2 bractlets) which encloses the ovary 
of the Carices. 

Per'igynovs petals and stamens. Inserted 
on the calyx, — or rather adhering to the 
inner surface of the calyx tube, — and 
thus surrounding the pistils. 

Peripjlierical; fixed or coiled round the 
circumference, or periphery. 

Perisjjerm; a deposit in many seeds, affix- 
ed to, or surrounding, the embryo — sy- 
nonymous with uVmmen — which see. 

Peristome; the circle of teeth or bristle- 
like processes which surround the orifico 
of the Theca or capsule of the Mouses. 



GLOSSARY. 



427 



Persl4e>it: not falling olf; remaiDing be- ! 
yond the time wlieu similar orsrans usu- \ 
ally fall off. ^ | 

Perso7iaU corolla. Masked ; having the | 
throat closed by a prominent palate, as ill ' 
Liiiana. j 

Petal. The (usually'i delicate colored flow- 
er leaf. la a flower of one petal (or unit- ! 
ed petals), the corolla and petal are the \ 
same ; in a flower of more than one petal 
the corolla is the whole and the petals are 
the parts. 

Petuloid; petal like ; delicate and colored, 

or expanded, like a petal. 
Petioliir; s^itMi on, or belonging to, the 

petiole. 

Pctiolate: having, or being supported on, a 

petiole ; not sessile. 
retiole. The ste a or foot-stalk of a leaf 
PeW'lidate; having a partial or subdivided 

petiole. 

Petiolule. A little or partial petiole ; the 
foot stalk of a leaflet. 

Ph£7ing(imom, or phanerogamoits: hav- 
ing visible genuine stamens or pistils; 
bearing true flowers. 

Piiyllodiam. The imitation, analogue, or 
substitute of a leaf, — usually the dihated 
foliaceoas petiole of an abortive com- 
pound leaf 

P'do^e, ; hairy: composed of, or clothed 
witii, di-Linct -trai_'!itish hairs. 

Piaii -. Tiie paired or opposite leaflets of 
a pinnate k-af 

Pianntc It-af ; having distinct articulated 
leaflets in pairs, on opposite sides of a 
sim[>le petiole. 

Pt?2/ia^i/z''nfaf or frond. Cleft in a pin 
nate manner, but the segments united or 
confluent at base. 

Piiinatijidlu; in a pinnaMfid manner. 

Pinnatisr^d; piuuately dissected or divid- 
ed,— but the segments nut articulated 
with the petiole. ~ 

P'mnule-'i. The leaflets or subdivisions of 
a bi- tri- or multi-pinnate leaf, or frond. 

Pistil. The central organ of a fertile flower. 
— consisting usually of ovary, st l\ and 
sHgina : sometimes the st'jl- is wanting, 
— or, in other words, the stigma is ses- 
sile. 

Pistillate flowers. Those which have 
pistils, but not stamons. 

Pi-itilliferou's; bearing pistils. 

Pitted; having sma'l -hallow depressions. 

Placenta (plural, ji' ii- nt- •. That part of 
a pericarp to which tl.e scods are attach 
od ; the line, or ridgr projecting in the 
cavity of the ovary, which bears the 
ovuIcs. 

Placent iJ: pertaining to the placenta. 
Pl'icen'iferous; bearing the placenta. 
Plane; flat, and with an even surfitce. 
Plano-convex; fiat on one side and con 

vex on the other. 
Plicate; plaited; folded or crimped, like a 

\dxu or ru He. 



Plumose; feather-lCce. A pappus is \,\vl- 
mose, when each hair has other hairs 
arranged on ox^posite sides of it, — as in 
Cii-sium. 

Pod. A dry seed-vessel, narrow and more 
or less elongated, and i^sually of 2 valves. 
The term is often applied indiscriminately 
io'boXh. Legumes and Siliques. 

Pollen ; the fertilizing powder contained 
in the anthers. 

Pollen-masses, or PolUnia. The waxy 
masses of pollen, in the AsclejAa^ and 
Orchis families. 

Poly, in composition : many. 

Polyadelpjlious; having the 'filaments unit- 
ed in 3 or more parcels. 

Polydndrous; having more than ten hypo- 
gynous stamens. 

Polycotyledonous ; having many seed- 
leaves. 

Polygamo-di ccious, or dioicotis ; having 
perfect and imperfect (or fertile and 
sterile) flowers on distinct plants. 

Polygamous; having some flowers perfect, 
and others either itaminate, pistillate, or 
neuter. 

Polygynous; when the pistils are nume- 
rous or indefinite. 

Polymhrplinus; variable; assuming, or apt 
to assume, many different forms. 

Polypetalous; having many distinct petals, 
— or. at least, more than one. 

Polysepalou^: having many distinct sepals, 
— or more than one. 

Pome. An apple: a fleshy fruit formed of 
several cartilaginous or bony carpels, 
imbedded in pulp and invested by the 
tube of tlie adherent calyx. 

Pores; small holes, or tubular openings. 

Porous; full of lioles, cells, or tubular 
openings. 

Pnmorse: end-bitten; ending blunt, as if 
bitten off'. 

/*/'<fcofio?i.s flowers; appearing before the 
leaves. 

Pridde. A sharp process arising from the 
bark, only, — and not originating in the 
wood. 

Primary; first in a series in order of time, 
or in importance,— opposed to secondar-;/. 

Primordial; first in Order: usually ap- 
plied to the first genuine leaves, — or 
those which are next above the cotyle- 
dons or seminal leaves. 

Prismatic ; like a prism ; having several 
angles and intermediate fiat faces. 

Process. A protuberance, eminence, or 
projecting part. 

Procumbent; lying on the ground, with- 
out putting forth'roots. 

Produced; extended, or lengthened out. 

Proliferous; producing its Tike in an un- 
usual way, — as lateral bulbs ; or putting 
forth a young and unusual accessory 
growth, from the centre of an umbel, 
flower. &c. 

Proi^trate ; lying flat, or close on the ground 



428 



GLOSSARY. 



Pridnose ; covered with a glaucous meali 
ness, like a plum. 

Pseudo pinnate ; falsely or imperfectly 
pinnate, — the leaflets (or rather segments) 
not articulated at base : See Pinnatuect. 

PuMnolent ; covered with a minute, short 
and fine pubescence. 

Pubescence. A general term for th.e hairy 
covering of plants. 

Pahescent; clothed with hairs, — especially 
with short weak hairs. 

Palp. A soft, fleshy or juicy ma.\s. 

Pulverulent; dusty; composed ot, or cov- 
ered with, a fine powder. 

Punctate; appearing as if pricked full of 
small holes, or covered with indented 
points. 

Punctieulate; having very minute punc- 
tures, or indented points. 

Pungent; sharp-pointed, prickly at apex ; 
also acrid. 

Pyramidal ; tapering npwai-ds ; nsually 

applied to 4-sidcd solids'which diminish 

to the apex. 
Pyriform; shaped like a pear; laorgest at 

the upper end. 
Quadrd/ngnlar ; foux-angled. 
Quadrifarious ; in 4 rows, or dii'ections ; 

facing or pointing 4 ways. 
Quadrifid; 4-cleft. 

Quaternate; 4 together ; arranged in fours. 

Quinate ,• 5 together; an-anged in fives. 

Pace of plants. A fixed and peculiar form 
or modification,— produced by tlie cross- 
ing or blending of distinct A'arieties ; or 
sometimes, perhaps, accideatal forms 
rendered permanent by culture, or other 
influences. 

Uaceme. A mode of flowering, in which 
the common peduncle- is" elongated, 
with tlie flowers on short lateral simple 
pedicels. 

Racemose; having the flowers in racemes. 

RacJds or Ithachis. The common pedun- 
cles, or elongated receptacle, on wlueh 
florets are collected in a spike; also the 
midrib of a pinnatisect frond. 

Pddiate; having raj-s (i. e. spreading lign- 
late florets) at the circumference ; as the 
heads of many Composit<r. 

JtacUate-veined; where the veins of a leaf 
diverge from a common centre, or point, 
at the summit of the petiole. 

Radiatiform; a term applied to heads of 
compound flowers in which all the florets 
are ligulate, and directed towards the 
circumference. 

Radical; belonging to, or growing imme- 
diately from, the'root. 

Radicating; sending out roots, or striking 
root at the nodes. 

Radicle. A little root ; the slender fibrous 
branch of a root. 

Raiveal; pertaining or belonging to the 
branches. 

Ramification. The branching or division 
of an organ into several parts. 



Ramose; branching. 

Rank, A row, or arrangement in a line 

Raphe. The line, or little ridge, on oii« 
side of auatropous (i. e., inverted) ovules 
and seeds, — formed by the adhesion of a 
portion of the funiculus. 

Eatoon (Span. Retono). A sprout from the 
root of a plant which has been cut otf 
(chiefly used in reference to the Sugar- 
cane). 

Bays. The spreading ligulate florets 
round the disk of a compoimd flower ; 
also, the footstalks, and enlarged mar- 
ginal flowers, of an umbel. 

Receptacle. The apex of the peduncle 
(much dilated in the CoMPoeiT ] ), on 
which the parts of a flower (or entire 
florets) are inserted; the seat of the 
fruit, or of seeds and their equivalents. 

Recurved; curved backwards. 

Reflexed; bent or doubled backwards. 

Re<jular; having the parts uniform and 
equal among themselves,— as the lobes or 
petals of a corolla. 

Remote ; seated or growing at an nuusual 
distance. 

Reniform; kidney-shaped. 

Repdnd ; having the margin Elightly in- 
dented with shallow sinuses. 

Replicate; folded back on itself. 

Replmn. A name given to parietal pla- 
centic when separated from the valves; 
also, the persistent border of a fallen le- 
gume. 

Resupinate; turned upside down. 

Reticidate ; netted ; having veins or 
nerves crossing each other, or braiiching 
and reuniting, like network. 

Retrorse, or retrorsely ; pointing back- 
vrards or downwards. 

Retiise; having a shallow sinus at (he end. 

RcDohite ; rolled backwards, or ontwai d». 

RJiiidma. A root-stock, — or root-like sub- 
terraneous stem. 

Rhombic, or vhomTjoid ; rhomb-shnped ; 
liaving four sides, with unequal aif- 
gles. 

Ribbed ; having ribs, or longitudinal 
parallel riflges. 

Ribs. Parallel ridges, or nerves, exiending 
from the base to, or towards, the apex. 

Rigid; stitf, inflexible, or not pliable, 

Ringent: gaping, with an open throat. 

Root-stock. See Rhizoma. 

Rostrate; beaked; having a process re- 
sembling the beak of a bird. 

Rbsulate: in a rosette; arranged in circular 
series, like the petals of a double rose. - 

Rotate corolla. AVheel-shaped ; monopet- 
alous (or gamopetalous) and spreading 
almost flat, with a very short tube. 

Rough; covered with dots, points, or short 
hairs, which are harsh to the touch. 

Round ; circular, or globular; not angular. 
See glodose, orbicular, and terete. 

Rudim.ent. An iiaperfcctly developed 
organ. 



GLOSSAKT. 



429 



Rtifescent ; becoming reddisli-bi own, or 
rust-colored. 

Rufous ; reddiih-bro-svn, or rust colored. 

Ilugose ; -n-rinkled. 

EugiUose ; finely v,-rinkled. 

Eliminated; a term applied to a variegated 
albumen— i. e., Avhen its substance is 
■wrinkled or plicate, and the investing 
membrane prolonged within the folds. 

Euntinate, ; resembling the teeth of a 
mill-saw ; somewhat pinnatifid, with the 
segments acute and pointing back- 
wards. 

Euiinei'. A slender shoot, producing roots 
and leaves at the end, only, — and at that 
point giving rise to another plant : exem- 
plified in the Strawberry plants. 

Sa.c. A membranous bag, or boundary of a 
cavity. 

Saccate ; having, or being in the foiTU of, a 

sac, or pouclL 
Sagittate ; arrow-shaped ; notched at base, 

with the lobes (and* frequently the sinus) 

acute. 

Salve/ -farm, or f:a7rrr-slia]:ier7 : tubular, 
with the limb abruptly and flatly or hori- 
zontally expanded. 

Samara. A kind of Akcne, or dry indehis 
cent i»ericarp, having a winged apex, or 
margin,— as tlie Maple, Ash, "Elm, &c. 

Sdmurvid ; winged or margined like a Sa- 
mara. 

SdrcGcarp. The floshy portion of a pericarp 
(ea*. gr. of a Drupe; between the Lpi- 
carp and \hc Endlcarp. 

Sarinentose ; having, or sending forth, or 
bciiig in the form of runners. 

Scuhi owi: rough wiili little jioints, or hairs. 

Scales Small thin plate.-, or kaf like pro- 
cesses : also the kaiiets of the involucre, 
in tlie CoMr. feiT.r. 

Sc((nde»t: clinil ii,g,— usually by means 
of tendi'iis. 

Scape. A peduncle proccc'ling directly 
from the roof, and nuistly naked. 

ScarioU'S ; dry and skinny, — generally 
transi)arent. 

S--attf'red • disposed or distributed thinly, 
v/ithout any regular order. 

S'jofpioid iidlorescence ; rolled back from 
the apex (circinatc, before development. 

Scroh'icidatc, : having the surface exca- 
vated into little pits, or hollows. 

Scuttlliiti' ; shaped like, or resembling, a 
target or shield. 

Seam. See Su tire. 

Sernrid : one ranked : all seated on, or 
turned to the same side. 

S ed: the matured ovule, with the Embryo, 
or young plant, formed within it. 

Segrmnt. The division, or separated por- 
tion, of a cleft calyx, leaf, &c. 

Semi; half; as semi-hivalved, half 2- 
valved, — semi-terete, half-round, &c. 

Sempervirent ; always green ; living 
through the winter, and' retaining its 
vferduve. 



Sepal. The leaflet, or distinct portion of a 
calyx. 

Sepaloid : resembling sepals; green and 
not petal like. 

Septic'idal dehiscence. When a compound 
pericarp opens by splitting the dissepi- 
ments— e., the carpels separate from 
each other, and open to the seeds by the 
ventral suture. 

Sep't f trails ; bearing a septum. 

Sepifagal dehiscence. When the dis- 
sepiments remain attached to the axis, 
while the valves brcftik away from them. 

Sepjtum. The partition which divides thti 
cells of fruit. 

Sericeous ; silky; covered with soft smooth 
glossy appressed hairs. 

Series. A division or comprehensive group 
of objects in Natural History; also, a 
continued succession of things of the 
same Order. 

Serrate ; sawed ; having sharp teeth on 
the margin, pointing towards the apex. 

Serratares. The teeth, or sharp segments 
of a serrate margin. 

Serrulate ; finely" serrate ; having small 
teeth or scrratures. 

Sessile; sitting closely; without any foot- 
stalk or pedicel. 

Seta (plural Sci^c). A bristle; a stiffish 
elastic hair. 

Sddccous; bristle-like; resembling a bristle 
in size and figure. 

Setose ; bristly ; having the surface covered 
with bristles. 

Sheath. A membranous expansion which 
is tubular, or convolute, and enclosing or 
embracing a stem. 

Sheathed; enclosed or embraced by a 
sheath. 

Sheathing; embracing the stem with a 
sheath. 

Shining ; glossy smooth and bright. 

S'nruh. A small woody plant, branching 
near the gi'ound,— often without any prin- 
cipal stem. 

Shruhhy ; hard and woody ; of the texture 
and size of a shrub. 

S'dicle. A little or short silique, nearly as 
wide as long. 

Sil'tque. A long slender pod, or membra- 
nous seed-vessel of 2 valves, having the 
seeds fixed alternately along both sutures. 

S'lUquose ; having siliques, — or resembling 
a silique. 

Simple ; undivided ; not branched ; not 
compound. 

Simjjle Umbel. When each ray terminates 

in a single flower, — ^instead of a secondary 

or partial umbel. 
S'mnate ; having sinuses, scallops, or gashes 

which arc open and rounded at bottom. 
Sinuate-dentate, — Simude serrate; liaving 

teeth, or serratnres, with the clefts or 

openings rounded at bottom. 
Sin-as. An open notch ; a rounded incision, 
I o»' scallop. 



430 



GLOSSAEY. 



Solitary : standing alone : one only in a 
place. 

Sjjadix. A SDrt of dense dowered, fleshy 
or club-like Si)ike, — usualiy enveloped 
by, or proceeding from, a sbeatliing invo- 
lucre called a Spatlie. 

Span ; a measure of 9 inches. 

Sjjatka-ceoics : having a spathe, "or resem- 
bling a spathe. 

Sjjat'ie. A sheathing kind of bract, com- 
mon calyx, or involucre, opei; on one 
side, — often contaioing the spadix. 

Sj)dthit.late, or spdtuUiie\ like a spatula: 
obovate-oblong, or larger and rounded at 
the end, and tapering to the base. 

Species. The lowest peraianent division of 
natural objects, in a systematic arrange- 
ment ; a group comprising all similar 
indivMuals. 

Bpecijio; belongyig to, or distinguishing 
the species. 

Spliacelate; dark colored, as gangrenous, 
or dead. 

SpJiagiiov^^; full of bog-moss.or Sphagnum. 
Sjjijdte ; in the form, or after the manner 
of a spike. 

SpirC:'. A kind of inflorescence in ^hich 
the flowers are sessile on the sides of a 
long common peduncle, or rachis. 

Sj^ikclet. A little spike,— or subdivision of 
a compound spike. 

S[jin/ILe-s]taped ; see fusiform. 

Spijie. A thorn; a sharp process originat- 
ing iu the wood — i. e., pointed abortive 
branch. 

S.-:' \ . V .• armed with minute spines. 

- ' becoming thorny, — or inclin- 
- tliorny. 

Spiiiosi : thorny"; armed with thorns. 
Spiiiulose; covered with small spiues. 
Spores, or sporulea. The seminal eqniva 

lents, or analogues of seeds, in crypto- 

gamous plants. 
Spur. A tapering hollow production of the 

base of a petal, "or sepal,— usually called 

a nectary. 

Spurred ;' a spur, or spur-like elon- 

gations. 

Sqiiamoie; scaly; corered more or less 
with scales. 

Sg-'iarrose ; jagged; having spreading tips, 
or divaricate"poi:its, all round, — as the 
scales of some involucres. 

Stamen. The organ of a flower wliich pre- 
pares the pollen,— usually consisting of a 
fJament and anther, and situated be- 
tween the corolla and pistils - 

Stamiiiafe flower. Uaving stamens, but 
not pistils. 

S'aminifrrou\; bearing or supporting the 
stamens. 

Staminodic Imperfect organs occupying 
the position of, and resembling ^a- 
ineivs, — being the transition stage between 
petals and stamens. 

Stellate ; like a star ; arranged like the rays 
of a star. 



SteUidar-, radiating after the mamier oi 
little stars. 

St^i/ular pubescence. Compour.d orfascic- 
nlate hairs, with the branches spreading 
like rays. 

Stem. The main axis nr br/-Jy of a plant 
t£ie common supporter of branches, 
leaves, flowers and fruit. 

Slemless ; having no visible nr aerial stem : 
applied to plants where t]jo stem is sup- 
pressed, or so short as to be apparently 
wanting. 

5ie/'z7e ; barren, or unpro^Qctive : applied 

to flowers which produc-j no fruit. 
Sligma. The summit of tbe style,— or that 

portion of the pistil thiougb which the 

pollen acts. 
Siigrnatic; belonging, or relating to the 

stigma. 

Stigrnatiferous, or ttigmatose ; bearing, or 

belonging to, the stigma. 
Stipe. A little pedicel, or footstalk, of 

seeds, &c. 

Stipellaie-. furnished with stipell-es, — i. e.. 
the stipules of leof.ets, in compound 
leaves. 

Stipelle-s. The stipnlar appendages, or littl-e 
stipides, of leaflets, in compound leaves. 

St'ipitate: having a stipe ; supported on a 
little pedicel. 

Stipitform; resembling a stipe. 

Stipular ; belonging or relating to stipules. 

Stipulate; furnishe'd with, stipules. 

Stipules. Leaflets, or leaf-iike append.iges, 
at the base of a petiole, or leaf. 

Stoles ■\. e. ^!tolonef<—Q.OTY\\\^t^ystoc^s^. The 
shoots, suckers, or oft'-sets. from theba>e 
of tlie stem, or roots of plants: usually 
applied to young winter grain,— as wheat, 
etc. See filler. 

Stoluniferous ; having suckers, ofl" sets, or 
running shoots (stolones). from the base 
of the stem, or crown of the root. 

Stri-e. Fine parallel ridges or lines. 

Striate ; marked with longitudinal lines, 
or stripes. 

Stf iate-'iuL^ate : scored with minute longi- 
tudinal grooves and ridges. 

Strict : straiirht and rigidly upright. 

Sirigose : armed with spreading bristly 
hairs, which taper from base to apex. 

Str-nhUe. The cone, or collective fruit, of 
the Pines, Firs, .tc. 

Strnjy'iitil '-. A llttl' croicn. or fungous .ap- 
pendage to the hilnm of a seed. 

Stijle. "The columnar (usually slender") 
portion of the pistil, between the ovary 
and the stigma. — sometimes wanting. 

Styliferou-s /"bearing or producing a style, 
or styles. 

Stylop'ndium. The foot or thickened base 
of the style for united styles'), at the 
junction with the epigynous disk, — as in 
Umi;eu,iff.p. v. 

Su^'-' — a ]irenosition signifying under, or a 
dici-iioh. — as a .b'i?/-cta<s. ^''ii-order, «se.: 
also employ( " as a diminutive, or qaali 



GLOSMAnr. 431 



fyini ter-H, equivalent to almost., smne-' 

w.'urt, or about, — as aub sessile, nearly 

sessiie, &c. 
Saberose ; of a textare resembling cork. 
Subulate : shaped like an awl-blade ; linear 

or cylindric below, angular and tapering 

to a sharp point at summit. 
Succalent : juicy; full of juice. 
Sucker. A shoot, or olf set, from the root, 

or bas" of ihe stem. 
S'ljfrute^cent ; almost slirnbby. 
Stlfi-uticose ; somewhat shrubby ; shrubby 

at base. 

Snlcats ; furrowed, or grooved. 

Super, or supra ; a preposition signifying 
above or tipnii, beyond or more than, — 
as super-aj:illary, situated above the 
axil. 

Supfr — or Supra-decompound : more than 
decompound; many times subdivided, 
or com{)Ound. 

Superior; above; a term applied to the 
ovary when it Is above the calyx, ovf/-ee 
in the flower ; also to the calyx, when 
the tube is adherent to the ovary, and the 
segments borne on its summit. 

Suppression : the non-production, or fail- 
ure in the development of an organ. 

5vrc«^9-s-?; bearing suckers, or olF-sets. 

Suspended ovules, or seeds. When they 
are attached to the summit of the ovary, 
or pericarp, and hang perpendicularly In 
the cavity. 

Suture. The line, or seam, formed by the 

junction of two margin^. 
Syrnmrtrical flower. "When there is an 

equal number of parts in each series, or 

verticil. 

Sjngenesinus, having the anthers united, — 

as in the Composit'f. 
Synonym. Another name for the same 

thing. 

Tenacious: sticky or adhesive; also hold- 
ing on by means of very small hooked 
points. 

Tendril. A filiform twining branch, or 
appendage, by which some plants climb, 
or sustain themselves ; in the grape vine, 
it is an abortive raceme. 

K'refe : round, like a column, — and either 
cylindric or tapering ; applied to stems, 
'>\- stem-like bodies." See orbicular. 

Terminal; situated at, or proceeding lorn, 
the end or summit. 

Ternary; arranged in threes; cons\sting 
of three parts, or elements. 

Ternate ; three-fold; three together,— as 
the leaflets of clover, itc. 

Tessellated ; resembling mosai > work ; in 
little squares, or checkers, like a chess- 
board. 

Testa. The outer integument, or proper 

coat, of a seed. 
Tetrad ynamons ; having 4 long and 2 

short stamens, in a cruciate flower. 
Tetrdrforuma ; 4 cornered, or haying 4 



Teirdrn'rutf^ ; consisting of 4 parts, or 

constituent portions. 
Teirandrous: having 4 stamens of equal 

leijgth. 

Thorn. A sharp process from the woody 
part of a plant, — being a stunted or abor- 
tive branch. 

Throat. The orifice or passage into tho 
tube of a corolla. 

Thyrsoid ; resembling, or being in the form 
of a Thyrsus. 

Thyrsus. A kind of contracted, or dense, 
ovoid panicle,— as In the Lilac, llorse- 
Chestnut, &c. 

Tiller. A sucker, or young shoot of Wheat, 
Eye, &c. 

Tiller, or tillaic ; to put forth suckers, or 
new shoots, from the root, or base ol 
the stem — as Wheat, &c. See stde, or 
stool. 

Tissue. Web, or fabric ; the intimate or- 
ganic structure, or composition, of bodies ; 
especially those which are, or have been, 
alive. 

Tomentose ; covered with a curled, or mat 

ted, cottony pubescence. 
Tumentum.. ' A matted downy or cottony 

pubescence. 
Toothed. See dentate. 
Torose, or torulose ; swelled out in obtuse 

ridges. 

Tortuoiis ; bent in different directions. 
Torus. The bed. or receptacle at the apex 

of a flower stalk, on which are inserted 

all the parts of the flower. 
Translucent; clear, or transmitting light 

faintly. 

Transverse, transversely; across; cross- 
M'ise : at right-angles with lengthwise. 

Triadelphous ; having the filaments united 
in 3 parcels. 

Tridndrous ; having 3 stamens. 

Triangular ; having 3 angles, corners, or 
points. 

Tribes. Groups of kindred plants, inter- 
mediate between Orders and Genera, 

Tribrdcteate ; having 3 bracts. 

TricJwtomous : three forked; dividing by 
3 equal branches. 

Tricoccoiis ; composed of three separable 
indehiscent carpels or (cocci). 

Triciuspidate ; having, or terminating in, 
3 sharp points. 

Trifdrious; facing, or pointing, inS direc- 
tions. 

Trifid: three cleft; partially cut or divided 

into 3 segments. 
TrifMate ; having 3 leaves ; or the leaves 

arranged in threes. 
Trifoliolate ; 3 leaflets together. 
Trigonous ; three cornered. 
Trigynous ; having 3 pistil?. 
Trilobate ; three lobed. 
Trimeroits ; consisting of 3 parts. 
Tripartite ; three parted. 
Tripstalaus ; having 3 petals, 
Tripmnate ; thrice pinnate ; the common 



432 



GLOSSARY. 



petiole 3 times divided, or with bipin- 

Date divisions on each side. 
Tripinndiijid; pinnately dissected, with the 

primary divisions twice pinnatifld. 
TripUnerved ; having 3 principal nerves 

from the base. 
Triqmtrous ; having 3 angles and 3 flat 

sides, as the cu]ms"of many Cypeeace-e. 
Trisepalous ; having 3 sepals. 
Tritemate leaf. When the petiole is twice 

divided tornately, and each final branch 

bears 3 leaves. 
Truncate; having the end blunt, as if 

transversely cut off. 
Tube; a pipe or hollow cylinder. 
Tuber. A solid fleshy knob attached to 

roots. 

Tiihercle. A small excrescence, knob, or 
point on a surface, making it rough or 
uneven. 

Tttberculate; covered with tubercles. 

Tiiberijerous; bearing or jux)ducing tubers. 

TiiJjeroii^., consisting of, or fleshy and solid 
like tubers. 

Tubular; having a tube, or constructed 
like a tube. 

Tuft; a bunch or fascicle growing from the 
same root, or originating nearly at the 
same point. 

Tumid; swelled, or enlarged li':e a swell- 
ing. 

Tunicate; coated ; having concentric coats, 

or thin layers. 
Turbinate; top shaped ; resembling an in- 
verted cone. 
Tu)f. The green sward, or grassy sod. 
Turgid; swelled, but not inflated. 
Tiirion. A thick, tender 5"oung shoot of & 

plant, as of Asparagus, Hop, <vc. 
Tussock. A dense tuft or bunch formed at 

the root, as in some species of Oarex, 

Grasses, &c. 
Twin; two of the same kind connected, or 

growing together. 
Tiiinincj; winding round and ascending 

spirally. 

Txco ranked (or roiced). See disiicJiouff. 

Type; a model or form; a pattern individ- 
ual which unites in itself most complete- 
ly the characters of a gro p. 

Umbel. A kind of inflorescence, in which 
the flower stalks proceed from a common 
centre, like rays, or the braces of an um- 
brella. Umbels are simple, or compound, 
which see. 

Vmbcllate; in the form or manner of an 
umbel. 

Vmbfllet. A partial umbel : one of the 
subdivisions of a compound urnbtl : 
which see. 

JJmljelliferous; bearing the flowers in um- 
bels. 

UmMUcate; navel like; having a central 

pit. or depression. 
Umbonate; protuberant, having a boss or 

elevated point in the centre. 
Unarmed; without thorns or prickles. 



Uncinate; hook shaped; hooked at the 
end. 

Undulate; wnvy ; curved, or risiig and 
depressed, like waves. 

Unequal; the parts not corresponding in 
length, size, form, or duration. 

UnguicxClate; having a slender or narrow 
base, like an unguis, or claw. 

Uniform, or tiniformly; in one form, or 
manner ; equally and alike. 

Unilateral; on one side; growing, or in- 
serted, all on one side of a stem, or com- 
mon peduncle. 

Unisexual ; of one sex — i. e., staminate or 
pistillate, only. 

Urceolate; pitcher-shaped, or urn-shaped ; 
swelling below, and contracted to a neck 
above. 

Utricle. A little sac, or thin membranace- 
ous pericarp, which encloses, but does 
not adhere to, the seed. See Caryop' 

Valvate aestivation. TVhen the sepals or 
petals are folded together, and fit by their 
edges, without overlapping. 

Valves. The several parts of a regularly 
dehiscent pericarp, — especially of a cap- 
sule: also, the scales which close the tube, 
in some corollas : and the chaffy pieces 
which cover the flowers of the Grasses. 

Var. ( Varietas); a variety or modification 
of a species. 

Yarietu. A new or unusual form, or mod- 
ification of a i>lant. produced by acciden- 
tal causes. — such as crossins, soil, climate, 
culture, &c. but not permanently, or at 
least, not spe<:ificalb/, distinct. 

Vascular plants. The higher orders of 
plants (including all above the Mosses^, 
— composed moi-e. or less of woody fi.bres, 
and elongated cells or vessels, in the form 
of slender tubes. 

Vaulted; arched over, like the roof of the 
mouth. 

Veins: the elongated vessels of leaves ; of 

ten synonymous with nerves. 
Veined; having the vessels variously 

branching, over the surface. 
Venation of a leaf. The distribution of the 

veins, or frame-work, in the lamina or 

blade. 

Ventral; contained in, or belonrins to, the 
belly. " " 

Ventral suture. The line or scam of a 
carpel, or folded leaf, formed bv the union 
of its margins; the opjjosite of dorsal. 

Ventr icose. ■' l)c'[]\c(\: swelling out in the 
middle, or below it. 

Vernation. The mode in which young 
leaves are folded and packed in a bud. 

Verrucose: warty; covered ^\-jth wart like 
exercsences. 

Versatile anther. When it is fixed by the 
middle on the point nf the filament, and 
moves round lightly and readily, — as in 
the Grasses &c. 
I Vertical, or vertically; in a perpendicular 



GLOSSARY. 



433 



direction ; from the zenith, or highest 
point, directly downwra-ds 
Vertical leaves. "When they stand edge 
up, or present their margins— and not 
their faces— to the earth and sky; ii>dic- 
ative rather of FJiyllodia, than of true 
leaves. 

Tei ticil: a -vrhorl ; flowers, leaves, or other 
organs, arranged in a horizontal ring, 
ronnd a stem, or at its summit. 

Vert if master. A spurious verticil ; t con- 
densed cyme, or cluster resemlL'ug a 
verticil.—" as in many Labiat.e. 

Verticillate; growing or arranged in i ver- 
ticil, or whorl, or horizontal ring. 

Yesicles. Little bladder-like vessels. 

Vtsic^clar, or Tesicnlose: made of, or /e 
sembling, little bladders. 

Vespertine flowers. Those which expac^ 
in the evening. 

Vkcilhim. The banner, or broad uppo 
petal of a pa^iiiionaceous corolla. 

VcUose, or villous; velvety; clothed wi!' 
numerous, and rather long, soft hairs. I 

Villas i plural, villi). The velvet like !,' 
bescauce on a villous plaTjt. 



Virescent; inclining to, or becoming, green. 
Virgate: wand like ; long, slender, and 

straight. 
Viridescen t; gre enish . 
Viscid: claminy : covered with a sticky or 

adhesive moisture. 
Viscid pubescent; with a clammy pubes- 

c»nce. 

Vittx- Fillets ; linear receptacles of oily 
matter on the carpels of Umbelliferous 
plants. 

Viriparous; producing a collateral off- 
spring by means of bulbs; or having the 
seeds to germinate before they are de- 
tached from the parent plant. 

Voh'JAle: ascending spirally, or climbing by 
embracing another object. See Ticining. 

Wavy; see^nndiiJate. 

Wliorl; see verticil. 

Winged; having a thin, extended margin. 

Wings. The side petals of a papilionaceoua 
corolla ; also, the membranous expansion 
' at the summit or margin of certain per-- 
i carps, and on the sides of some petioles. 

WooUr/; clothed with a long curled or Uiftt- 
i t»<i pubescence, resembling wool 



19 



ABBREVIATIONS 

OF THE 

NAMES OF THE PEINCirAL AUTHOnS QUOTED IN THIS W'OIIK. 



A-ch. Eric Acbarius, Swedish Bo- 
Unist. 

Adans. Michel Adanson, French. 
Agarclh. Car. Ad. Agardh, Swedish. 
Ait. Wm. & Wm. T. Aiton, EngUsh. 
All. Car. Allioni, Italian. 
A. DC. AlphonsG De Candolle, French. 
Bartl. Friedr. Gottl. Bartling, Ger- 
man. 

Bartr. John & Wm. Bartram, Ameri- 
can. 

Bmuv. Pahsot de Beauvois, French. 

Benth. George Bentham, Enghsh. 

Bess. "Wihb. Besser, German, 

Blume. Carl Ludw. Blume, German. 

Bronn. Heinr. Geo. Bronn, German. 

Brot. Felix Avellar Brotero, Portu- 
guese. 

Carey, John, English. 

C. A. Met/, Carl Amt. Meyer, German. 

6W. Alex. Hen. Garb, de Cassini, 
Italian. 

C/iav. II- Chavannes, French. 
Chois. Jaq. Denis Choisy, French. 
Colde7i, Cadwallader, American. 
Correa. Abbe Correa de Serra. Por- 
tuguese. 

Crantz. Heinr. Joli. Nepom Crantz, 
German. 

DC. Aug. Pyramus De Candolle. 
French. 

DC. (Alph.) Alphonse De Candolle, 

French. 
Decakne, Joseph, French. 

(431) 



Desf. Rene L. Desfontaines, French. 
De Theis. Alex, de Theis, French. 
Dillen. Joh. Jac Dihenius, German. 
Doti. David & Geo. Don, English. 
Duhy. Jean Etienne Duby, French. 
Duham. Hen. L. Duhamel, French. 
Dunal. Micliel Felix Dunal. French. 
Ehrh. Friedrich Ehrhart, German. 
Ell. Stephen Elliott, American. 
Endl. Stepli Endlicher, Hungarian. 
Engclmann, George, American. 
El. Cestr. Flora Cestrica: By Wm 

Darlington, 1 vol. 12?«o, 1S53. 
Forst. George (John, &c.) Forster, 

English. 
Fries. Elias Fries, German 
Gaertn. Jos. & Carl Friedi'. Gaertner, 

German. 

Gaudich. M. Ch. Gaudichaud, French. 
Glox. Benj. Petr. Gloxiu, German. 
Gooden. Saml. Goodenough, Engiisli. 
Gray, Asa, American. 
//. B. K. Humboldt, Bonpland, and 
Kunth. 

Zfo//, or Haller. Albert von Haller, 
Dutch. 

Hoffm. Geo. Fr. (et al.) Hoffmann, 
German. 

Ilofmsg. J. C. Count Hoffmannsegg 
German. 

Hook. Sir Wm. J. Hooker, English. 
Huds. Wm. Hudson, English. 
Jacq. Nicli. Joseph Jacquin, German. 
Juss. Ant. Laur. de Jussieu, French 



ABBIIEYIATION. 



435 



Kdm. Pelir, Swedish. 
Koch. 'Wilh. Dan. Jos. Koch, German. 
Kunth. Car. Sigism. Kunth, German. 
L. Car. Linnaeus, Swedish. 
Lam. J. Bapt. Monet de la Marcl^, 
French. 

Lamb. A. B. Lambert Enghsh. 
Less. Chr. Fr. Lessing. German. 
Lcstib. Fr. Jos. Lestiboudois, Bel- 
gian. 

Lindl. John Lindlej. English. 
Link. Heinr. Friedr. Link. German. 
Loddig. Conrad Loddiges, English. 
Marsh. Humplirj MarshaU, Amer- 
ican. 

Mart. Carl Friedr. Phil, von Martins, 
German. 

Medik. Fried. Casim. Medikus, Ger- 
man. 

Meij. (C. A.) Carl. Ant. Meyer, Ger- 
man. 

Mich. Pet. Ant Micheli. Itahan. 
Mill. Philip Miller, English. 
Mirh. C. F. Brisseau-Mirbel. French. 
Moench. Conrad Moench, German. 
Moris. Guiseppe Giacento, Italian. 
3Iuhl. Henry Muhlenberg, Amer- 
ican. 

Mx. Andr. Michaux, French. 

Keck. Xatal. Jos. do Xecker, French. 

Kees. Chr. Gottfr. Nees von Esen- 
beck, German. 

Nitlt. Thomas Xuttall, Anglo Amer- 
ican. 

Pers. Chr. Henri Persoon, Dutch ? 
Fohl. Hans Friederich, German. 
Foir. J. L. Marie Poiret, French. 
Fursh. Fredk. Pursh. 
Fresl. Carl Boriwog Presl, Hunga- 
rian. 

Raf. ovRafin. C. Ealinesque Schmaltz, 
Sicilian. 

R. Br. Robert Brown, English. 
Rich. Louis Claude Richard, French. 
Risso. A Risso, French ? 



Roxb. Wm. Roxl urgh, English. 
Rumph. Geo. Everh. Rumphius, 
Dutch. 

Salish. Richd. Aath. Sahsbury, Eng- 
hsh. 

Savi. Gaatano, Savi, Italian. 
Schott. Heinrich Schott, German. 
Schrad. Heinr. Adolph. Schrader, 
German. 

Shreb. Joh. Chr. Dan. von Schreber, 
German. 

Shum. Chr. Fr. Schumacher, Ger- 
man. 

Scop. Joh. Ant. Scopoli, Italian. 
Ser. Nich. Charles Seringe, Swiss? 
Sieb. Sf Zucc. Siebold and Zuccarini, 
Dutch? 

Smith. Sir James Edward, Enghsh. 
Sibth. Joh. Sibthorp, Enghsh. 
Sokmd. Dan. Conr. Solander, Swed- 
ish. 

Sprcnr/. Kurt Sprengel, German. 
Siv. Glaus Swaitz, Swedish. 
Thc-is (De). Alexancbe de Theis, 
French. 

Tode. Heinr. Jul. Tode, German. 
Torr. 8f Gr. Jno. Torrey & Asa Gray, 

American. 
Tournef. Jos. Pitton de Tournefortj 

French. 

Trin. Car. Born. Trinius, German. 

Vahl. Martin Vahl, Danish. 

Vaill. Sebastian Yaillant, French. 

Vent. Etienne Pierre Yentenat, 
French. 

Vill. D. Villars, French. 

Valf. Thomas Walter, Anglo-Amer- 
ican. 

Wangenh. Fr. Ad, Jul. Wangen- 

heim, German. 

Weih. Aug. Weihe, German. 

WiUd. Carl Ludw. WiUdenovf, Ger- 
man. 

fVith. 'Wm. 'A\^ithoring, Enghsh. 



INDEX 

TO THK 

NATURAL ORDERS, GEISTERA AND SPECIES 

OF THE PLANTS DESCr.lBED OR KEFEKEED TO IX THIS WOEK. 













PAGE. 


^BiiiLlIOSCIIUS J 


66 


^E^GOPODIUJI, 


151 


AM YG D ALUS , 




csculontus J 


66 


Podograna , 


151 


communis. 


113 


Abies, 


337 


-fIjoL' u u o , 

Hippocastanum 


88 


AriUM, 

^ravGoiens J 


150 




338 


88 


150 


K 1 ' 


337 




88 


Aquifoliace^ , 


216 


OtiTitici Gnsis J 


337 


xCiXHUSA, 


151 




344 


6XC6lSEXj 


338 


Cynapium, 


151 


Arachis, 


103 


Frascri, 


' 337 


Agrostemjia, 


56 


hypogsca, 
Af^liace^, 


104 


nigra, 


338 


Githago, 


56 


155 


Abutilon, 


65 


AGRosns, 
vulgaris, 


373 


Aralia, 


155 


Avicennje, 


65 


373 


nudicaulis, 


158 


ANACARDIACEiii, 




Ailanthus, 


76 


quinquefolia 


156 


Andromeda, 


213 


glandulosa, 


76 


racemosa, 


155 


Mariana, 


213 


Alisjiace^e, 


847 


spiuosa, 


156 


Andropogon, 


410 


Allium, 


354 


ARCnEMORA, 


14g 


furcatus. 


411 


CanadensG, 


355 


rigida. 


149 


macrourus. 


411 


Cepa, 


355 


Arctostapiiylos, 


211 


scoparius, 


410 


Porrum, 


356 


Uva.ursi, 


211 


AnONACE/E, 


36 


sativum, 
Schcenoprasum, 


355 


ARGEMO-VE, 


40 


Anthemis, 


185 


357 


Mexicana, 


41 


arvensis, 


187 


vineale, 


355 


Aris^ia, 

triphyllum, 


344 


nobilis, 


185 


AiAUS, 


327 


345 


Anthoxantuum, 


398 


incana, 


828 


Aristolocuiace.^;, 


268 


odoratum, 


398 


serrulata, 


327 


Arisi-olocjiia, 
Serpentaria, 


268 


ACERACESiE, 


89 


Alopecurus. 


370 


268 


Acer, 

dasycarpum, 


83 


pratensis, 


372 


Sipho, 


268 


GO 


Altera, 


63 


Armenia CA, 


114 


nigrum, 
platanoides. 
Pseudo-platan -as, 


90 


ofRcinalis, 


63 


dasycarpa. 


115 


90 


rosea. 


64 


vulgaris, 


114 


89 


Amarantace^, 


275 


Armora aA , 


48 


rubrum, 


91 


Am.vrantus, 


275 


rusticana. 


48 


saccharinum, 


90 


albus, 

chlorostachj'S, 


278 


Arrhevatiiekum, 


396 


Achillea, 


187 


275 


avenaceum, 


398 


millefolium, 


187 


hybrid us, 


275 


ARTEjnSIA, 


190 


Ptarmica, 


187 


retroflexus, 


275 


Abrotanum, 


191 


Aco^^TUM, 


33 


spinosus, 


277 


Absinthium, 


190 


Napellus, 


33 


Amerosia , 


176 


Dracunculus, 


190 


ACORUS, 


346 


artemisiasfolia. 


176 


Arundinaria, 


388 


Calamus, 


316 


triflda, 


176 


macrosperma, 


388 


Acnxo^iERis, 


182 


Ampelopsis, 

quinquefolia, 


84 


iiSARUM, 


269 


Euarrosa, 


182 


84 


Canadense, 


2«9 



(436) 



INDEX. 



437 



ASCIXHADACILE, 
ASCLEPLiS, 

Cornuti, 
tuberosa, 
AsnnxA, 
triloba, 

ASPAPvAGUS, 

officinalis, 



ericoicles, 
Atexa, 

nuda, 

sativa, 
Azalea, 

nudiflora, 

Baptisia, 

australis, 

tioctoria, 
Barbare.\, 

praecox, 

vulgaris, 
Batatas, 

edulis, 
BE^-zoIN, 

odoriferum, 

EER'SERlDAOi.'i:, 

Bebf.eris, 

Canadensis, 

vulgaris, 
Beta, 

vulgaris, 

BETrLACE^, 

Betcla, 
alba, 
excelsa, 
leuta, 
nigra, 
papyracea, 

bipinnata, 

cbrysauthemoides, 

frondosa, 

BiGXOXIACEJJ, 

EuTUir, 

capital um, 

BORR.A.GL\ACE^, 
BPJ.SSICA, 

campestris, 
olcracea, 

BROilEIJACE^;, 

Bromus, 

mollis, 

racemosus, 

secalinus, 
Bboussonetia, 

papyrifera, 

BRUXELLjI, 

vulgaris. 



Calamagrostk, 
arenaria, 
Canadensis, 

Caltha, 

palustris, 

CAlTCAi'TIUCE^E, 



PAGE. 
261 

261 
261 
263 
36 
36 
351 
S52 
171 
172 
393 
395 
£94 
214 
214 



108 
108 
43 
43 
44 
247 
247 
£86 
286 
36 
37 
37 
37 
272 
272 
324 
324 
325 
S27 
327 
326 
325 
183 
184 
183 
183 
220 
274 
274 
241 

46 
44 
349 
386 
387 
387 
386 
296 
296 
257 
238 



376 



Calycanthus, 

florid us, 

glaucus, 

laevigatus, 
Cameuxa, 

sativa, 

sativa, 

CaFR1F0LL\.CE^, 

Capseli^, 

Bursa-pastoris, 

Capsicum, 
annuuna, 

C.vrex, 

stricta, 

tentaculata, 

vulpinoidea, 

Car-ji, 
Carui, 

Carpinus. 

Americana, 

Carta, 
alba, 
amara, 
glabra, 
microcarpa, 
olivaeformis, 
sulcata, 
tomentosa, 

Caryophyllacee, 

Cassu, 

Chamaecrista, 

occidentalis, 

Marilandica, 

CASTAXEi, 

pumila, 

vesca, 
Catalpa, 

bignonioidcs, 
Cel>>stracke, 
Celastrcs, 

scandens, 
Celtis, 

crftssifolia, 

occidentalis, 

puraila, 
Cenxhrus, 

tribuloides, 
Cettaurea, 

Calcitrapa, 

Cyanus, 

nigra, 
Cerastium, 

viscosum, 

vulgatum, 
Cercis, 

Canadensis, 
Cheudovium, 

majus, 
Chexopodiacee, 
Chexopodium, 

album, 

ambrosioides, 

hybridum, 

CnHLiPHILA, 

umbellata, 
CmoxAZ'Trnus, 



PAGE. 

135 
1S5 
135 
135 
49 
49 
299 
299 
160 
50 
50 
255 
255 



362 
150 
150 
322 
322 
304 
304 
306 
306 
306 
304 
SC5 
305 
56 
109 
110 
110 
109 
318 
319 
318 
221 
222 
86 
86 
80 
293 
294 
293 
294 
406 
406 
193 
194 
194 
194 
59 
59 
59 
108 
108 
41 
41 
270 
271 
271 
272 
271 
215 
215 
2G6 



Virginica, 

CiCER, 

arietiniim, 
CicnopjiM, 
Endivia, 
Intybus, 

CiCUTA,' 

maculata, 

CLS'iaFUGA, 

racemosa, 

ClKSIt-M, 

altissimum, 

arvense, 

discolor, 

liorridulum, 

lanceolatum, 

muticum, 

pumilum, 

ClTRCLLUS, 

vulgaris, 

CLEmRA, 

acuminata, 
ainifolia, 

Cmdoscolus, 
stimulosa, 

CojiPOsrr^E, 

COMPTONIA , 

asplenifolia, 
Conifers, 

COXIUM, 

maculatum_ 

CONVOLVri-ACE^j 

Convolvulus, 
arvensis. 

Corns, 

trifolia, 

CORIAXDRUM, 

sativum, 

CORNACEE, 
CORXUS, 

florida, 

CORYLUS, 

Americana, 

Avellana, 

rostrata, 

Crat^gus, 
cordata, 
Crus-galli, 
oxyacantha, 

Cructfer^, 

CUCUMIS, 

Auguria, 

melo, 

sativus, 

CUCURJUTACE^, 
CUCURBITA, 

Melopepo, 
Pepo, 
verrucosa. 
Cupressus, 
tbyoides, 

CuPULIFERiE, 
CUSCCTA, 

Gronovii, 
epiliuum, 
Ctdonia, 
vulgaris, 



page. 

2G6 
103 
103 
200 
202 
200 
152 
152 
33 
34 
195 
190 
197 
196 
197 
195 
199 
196 
140 
140 
216 
215 
215 
289 
289 
167 
324 
324 
SS3 
153 
153 
246 
237 
247 
30 
31 
153 
155 
157 
157 
158 
320 
322 
320 
322 
131 
131 
131 
131 
42 
138 
140 
139 
139 
138 
142 
142 
142 
143 
340 
340 
307 
249 
£50 
249 
1S4 



438 



IXDEX. 





PAGE. 




PAGE. 




PIGK. 


Japonica, 


135 


Faba, 


150 


lanatum. 


148 


Cyisara , 


194 


vulgaris, 


105 


Heuchera, 


144 


Cardunculus, 


195 


Fagopyrum, 


283 


Americana, 


144 


Scolymus, 


195 


esculentum, 


283 


Hibiscus, 


67 


Cyxodon, 

Dactylon, 


877 


Fagus, 


319 


Syriacus, 


67 


377 


ferruginea, 


819 


Trionum, 


67 


Ctnoglossum, 


245 


Fedu, 


166 


HoLcrs, 


396 


Morisoni, 


245 


olitoria. 


166 


lanatus. 


393 


officinaie, 


245 


Festuca, 


885 


Hora)EUM, 


392 


Ctperace.!!, 


£58 


elatior, 


385 


distlcbum, 


393 


Cyperus, 


359 


Ficus, 


294 


vulgare, 


893 


phymatodes, 


359 


Carica, 


294 


HuiruLvs, 
Lupulus, 


299 


rotaudus, 


SCO 


Fcexiculcm, 


149 


300 


strigosus, 


£59 


vulgare. 


149 


HYOsci'Asrus, 


257 






Fragaria, 


123 


niger, 


258 


Pactytjs 

glomGrata 


379 
379 


vesca, 
Virginiana, 


123 
125 


Hypericace.*;, 
iIypericum, 


54 
54 


258 
258 
146 


Fraxixus, 


266 


perforatum, 


54 


Stramonium, 
Dauctos 


Americana, 
pubcscens, 


£66 
267 


Hyssopus, 
officiualis, 


235 


Carota, 


146 


sambucifolia, 


267 


Ilex, 

Cassine, 
glabra. 




DEiPnixiuM, 
Ajacis, 
Consolidci 


81 
32 
81 


viridis, 
Gaulttieria, 


£67 
212 


216 
217 
217 


datum, 


82 


procumbeus 


212 


laevigata. 


217 


Digitalis, 


226 
228 
217 


GATlUSSAm, 


£08 


opaca, 


216 


purpurea, 

DSDSP'i'ROS, 


dumosa, 
frondosa. 


£09 
208 


verticillata, 

IXDIGOFERA, 


217 
102 


Virgiuiana, 

DlPSACK.-E, 
DlPaACUS, 

rullonum, 


218 
167 
167 
167 


resinosa, 
Gexista, 

tinctoria, 
Gextiaxace.?:, 


£08 
96 
96 

260 


Anil, 
tinctoria, 

IXTLA, 

Helenium, 


103 
102 
175 
176 


sylvestris. 


167 


GEPwiXIACIi^, 

Geraxicji, 




Ip05I(E.\ , 

Nil, 


249 
249 


Ebesacem, 
echixospermuji, 




Carolinianum, 


71 


purpurea. 


249 


217 


macnlatum, 


71 




244 


pusillum, 


71 


JCGLAXDACHa;, 


802 


l^appula. 


244 


Geuji, 


i20 


JUGLAXS, 


302 


ECHICil, 


241 


rivalG, 


120 


cinerea. 


303 


vulgarc, 


£42 


Gleditsciiia , 


111 


nigra. 


803 


El-EUSIXE, 


378 


triacanthos, 


111 


regia. 


802 


Indica, 


278 


Glyceria, 




JUXCACE^, 


£58 


EXSLEXIA, 


262 


fluitaus. 


881 


Juxcus, 


368 


albida, 


263 


Gossypium, 


67 


bufonius. 


858 


EKECHTinTES, 


191 


lierbaceum, 


67 


bulbosus. 


858 


hieracifolia, 


192 


Gramixe.*;, 


865 


eflusus. 


358 


Erica CE^, 


207 


GR05SUI„-iCE.5, 




JUMPERUS, 


842 


Erigerox, 


172 


Gymxocladus, 


110 


communis, 


342 


annuum, 


174 


Canadensis, 


111 


Virgiuiana, 


342 


Cauadense, 


173 










strigosum. 


174 


Hasiamelace^, 


144 




213 


Erodium, 


71 


Hamameus, 


144 


angustifolia, 
latifolia, 


214 


cicutarium. 


71 


Virginica, 


144 


214 


Ervum, 


105 


Hedeoma, 


232 






Lens, 


105 


pulegioidcs. 


232 


Labiate, 


228 


EUOXYMUS, 

atropurpureus, 


87 


Heder,\, 




Lacttjca, 


£05 


87 


Helix, 


157 


elongata, 


.- 203 


EUPATORIUM, 


170 


Heuaxthus, 


181 


Scariola, 


205 


perfoliatum, 


170 


annuus, 


181 


Lagexaria, 


138 


purpureum, 


171 


tuberosus, 


181 


vulgaris, 


138 


Ecthorruce^, 


287 


Hemerocallis, 


852 


Lamium, 


239 


Euphorbia, 


287 


flava. 


852 


araplexicaule, 


239 


Esula,' 

liypericifolia, 


£89 


fulva. 


352 


Laportea , 


299 


288 


Hepatica, 


£6 


Canadensis, 


299 


Ipecacuanhae, 


288 


acutiloba, 


£6 


Lavfa, 


200 


Lathyrus, 


289 


triloba , 


26 


major , 


200 


maculata, 


:S8 


IIeracleum, 


148 


Lapjx, 









I>iDEX. 






439 




PAGE. 




PAGE. 




PAGE. 


Americana, 


339 


5IALVA, 


64 


1 Eurcpaja, 


266 


Cedrus, 


339 


crispa, 


65 


OXAGRACE-i:, 


135 


Europaea, 


3S9 


rotuudifolia, 


64 


OXOPORDOX, 


199 




285 


sylvestris. 


65 


Acanthium, 


199 


Lava>-dula, 


230 


JIaktyxia, 


222 


Origaxim, 


236 


vera, 


230 


proboscidea. 


222 


Marjorana, 


236 


Leersi-\, 


369 


ilARRUBICM, 


L38 


ORXrrHOGALUM, 


352 


oryzoides, 


S69 


vulgare, 


238 


umbellatum, 


353 


LEGCJnXOS.E, 


93 


Maruta, 


185 


Ory'za, 


£63 


Leo.vtodox, 


202 


Cotula, 


185 


sativa, 


369 


autumnale, 


202 


ilEDICAGO, 


99 


Ostrya, 


396 


L£OXL"RUS, 


240 


lupulina, 


100 


Yirginica 


323 


Cardiaca, 


240 


sativa. 


99 


OXAUDACEJi, 


72 


Leucaxthemum, 


188 


ilKQACEi', 


69 


OXAUS, 


72 


vulgare, 


189 


ilEUA, 


69 


stricta, 


73 


LtGUSTRUM, 


265 


Azedarach, 


69 


Pa>iccic, 


401 


vulgare 


265 


ilEULOTVS, 


99 


capillare. 


402 


Lili.\ceje:, 


851 


alba, 


99 


Crus-galli, 


403 


IjXITil, 


357 


officinalis, 


99 


glabrum. 


402 


album, 


357 


Mettssa, 


237 


sanguinalc, 


402 


bulbilerum, 


357 


officinalis, 


237 


Papaver.\ce^, 


40 


Canadense, 


357 


ilEXTHA., 


230 


Pataver, 


40 


lancifolium, 


357 


arvensis, 


231 


dubuim. 


40 


superbum. 


357 


Canadensis, 


231 


somniferum, 


40 


LlNACE.£, 


70 


piperita, 


231 


PASPAlUil, 


401 




70 


viridis, 


231 


setaceum. 


401 


usitatissimum, 


70 


MOLLLGO, 


59 


Pastixaca, 


147 


LlXARU, 


225 


verticillata. 


59 


sativa, 


147 


vulgaris, 


225 


MOXARDA , 


232 


Paulo wxia, 


226 


IjQCIDAilBAR, 


145 


didyma, 


232 


impenalis, 


226 


styraciflua, 


145 


punctata. 


233 


Persica, 


112 


LiRIODEXDRO.V, 


35 


MOJIORDICA, 


141 


lie vis, 


118 


Tulipifera, 


35 


balsamina, 


141 


vulgaris, 


113 


LlTHOSPERSIOI, 


243 


MORUS, 


294 


Petroselixcm, 


152 


arvense, 


243 


alba, 


295 


sativum, 


152 


LOBEUACE-E, 


206 


multicaulis, 


296 


PHALARI3, 


398 


LOBELL\ , 


206 


nigra, 


296 


arundinacea 


400 


cardinalis, 


207 


rubra, 


295 


Canariensis, 


401 


iuflata, 


206 


MCHLEXBERGIA, 


375 


Phaseolus, 


107 


LOUUM, 


388 


diffusa, 


375 


lunatus, 


107 


p>?remie, 


389 


Mexicana, 


375 


nanus, 


107 


LOMCERA, 


160 


Myricace^, 


323 


vulgaris, 


107 


Caprifolium, 


160 


Myrica, 


3^3 


Phlei-m, 


872 


grau. 


160 


cerifera, 


324 


pratense. 


372 


Periclymenum, 


160 


Gale, 


324 


Phor.\dexdrox, 


287 


sempervirous, 


161 






flavcscens. 


287 


LORAXTHACE^, 


286 


XASTCRTirM, 


43 


PHRAGiniES, 


387 


Lycium, 


256 


officinale, 


43 


communis, 


387 


Barbarum, 


258 


Xeguxdo, 


92 


Physaus, 


256 


Lycopersiccm, 


250 


aceroides. 


92 


Alkekengi, 


256 


cerasiforme, 


251 


Xepeta, 


234 


viscosa,- 


266 


escuieutum, 


250 


Cataria, 


234 


Phytolj.ccace.s, 


270 






Glechoma, 


234 


Phytol.\cca, 


270 


Macxura, 


297 


XlCOTLiXA, 


259 


decandra, 


270 


aurautiaca, 


297 


Tabacum, 


259 


Pixxs, 


334 


Magxouace^, 


34 


Xyssa, 


159 


inops. 


334 


Hagxolia, 


34 


multiflora, 


159 


mitis, 


335 


acuminata, 


35 






palustris. 


336 


conspicua, 


35 


(EyOTHERA, 


136 


resinosa, 


335 


cordata, 


35 


Biennis, 


136 


rigida. 


335 


Fraseri, 


35 


fruticosa, 


136 


Strobus, 


336 


glauca, 


34 


grandiflora, 


136 


tseda, 


336 


grandiflora, 


35 


Ocrsioi, 


229 


PlSCil, 


106 


macropl" Vila, 


35 


basilicum, 


230 


sativum, 


106 


purpurea. 


35 


Oleace^, 


264 


Plaxtagixace^, 


218 


Umbrella, 


35 


Olka, 


266 


PlAXTAGO, 


218 


iUlvacile, 


63 


Amsricana, 


266 1 


lanceolata, 


220 



440 



INDEX. 















major 


218 


. .. . 
jiTioi icaria. 


312 


gra\ 60ien3, 


it 


PLATANACE.^j 


301 


illicifolia 


315 




1 t 


Platan US, 


301 


macrocarpa, 


308 


copallina 


78 


occidcnttilis 


301 


nigra, 


313 


Cotinus 


81 


POAj 


381 


obtusiloba 


308 


glabra 

ToxicoclGndrou 


78 


annua, 


382 


oliv96foi'ixiis 


308 


80 


C01TiprCSS9. J 


383 


palustris 


317 




78 


pFcitcnsG 




Pbcllos 


312 


venenata 


79 


S6rotincij 


882 


I^riiius , 


310 






trivitilis ' 


382 




316 


Sabbatta , 


260 


Podophyllum J 


38 


tinctoria J 


315 


angularis, 


260 


peltatum J 


38 


virciis 


312 


Sanguixari 


42 


POLYGALACE^j 


92 






Canadensis, 


42 


POLYGALA, 


92 


II A X U N C U L-\ CEi52 , 


26 


Saccharum 


410 


senega, 


92 


Raxunculus, 


27 


offlcinarum 


410 


POLYGONACEA'y 


278 




28 


Sagittaria 


347 


Polygonum, 


278 


b iilbosus , 


28 


variabilis 


348 


arifolium 


282 


muricatus, 


SO 


Satjcace^, 


328 


aviculare, 


281 


rcpcDS 


39 


Salix, 


328 


Hydropiper J 


280 


Hapiianus, 


52 


329 


orientale 


279 


Raplianistr uni , 


54 


Bab vlonica 


329 


Pennsy Ivaniciiin 


279 




52 




329 


Persicaria, 
s ag i 1 1 a t u. in 


279 


Rhamnace^, 


85 


viminaliSj 


328 


282 


Rhamxus 


85 


SAU'^'BURIA 


343 


POPULUS, 


330 


catliarticus 


86 


adiantifolia 


344 






liliaponticutn 


284 


Salvia 


233 


anii^ulata 


331 


285 


234 


l)alsaniifera J 


332 


RhODOJOE VDROX 


214 


officinalis , 


233 


dilatata^ 


332 


iTiaxi m u iii , 


214 


Sambucus, 


'162 


Grseca, 


331 




136 


Canadensis 


162 


grandidentata. 


330 


uig^uin , 


137 


Sapindace^, 


87 


monilifera, 


331 


rubruni , 


137 


Saponarl\, 


58 


tremuloideSy 


330 


uva-crispa, 


136 


officinalis, 


58 


PoRTULACACE-^ 


62 


Rjcivus 


289 


Sassafras 


285 


Port u LAC A 


62 


comuiunis 


289 


officinale 


285 


Gillicsii , 


63 


ROBI\IA 


100 


Satureja 


235 


grandiflora 


63 


liispida, 


101 


tiortensis 


235 


oleracea 


62 


Pscud-acacia 


101 


Saxifragace^^!, 


143 


POTENTILLA 


122 


viscosa 


101 


SAXIFR AG A 

T* A n n Q V 1 f 1 n 1 r» '\ 

J. KjLliJ^y L \ tllliK^H 

Virgin ien sis J 


143 


Canadensis 


122 




112 


143 


jlS^or vcgica 


122 




129 


143 


Prunus, 


115 


Carolina, 


130 


SCILLA, 


353 


Americana J 


116 


IcBV'igata 


130 


Fraseri, 


353 




117 


lucicla 


130 


SCIRPUS 


361 


Caroliniana. 


119 


rubi^inosa 


130 


pungens , 


361 


Cerasus 


118 


sctigGra 


130 


SCROPIIULARIACE-E, 


223 


Chicasa, 


116 


RUBIACE,iE, 


163 


Secale 


392 


mariti ma 


116 




163 


cereale 


392 




118 


Tin pf nni m 
± iUO tui U 111 , 


164 




192 


Virginiana 


119 




i25 


aureus 
vulgaris, 


193 


Spinosa 


115 


Canadensis 


127 


193 


serotinaj 


119 


cuneifolius, 


128 


Sesamum, 


223 


Pyrus, 


132 




126 


Indicum 


223 


Americana, 


134 


K'utkanus 


126 


Setaria 


404 


auciipar la, 


1 34 


occidentalis J 


127 




404 


commimis, 


132 


odoratus 


125 


Italica, 


40? 


coronaria 


133 


Btrigosus, 


126 


verticillata 


406 


xnalus 


132 


villosus, 


128 


viridis 


404 






RUDBECKIA, 


180 


SiCYOS, 

angulatus, 


141 


QCAMOCLIT, 


249 


fulgida. 


180 


141 


vulgaris, 

QUERCUS, 


249 


hirta. 


180 


Sjda, 


65 


307 


RUITEX, 


283 


spinosa. 


65 


alba, 


309 


Acetosella, 


284 


SiXAPIS, 


47 


aquatica. 
Castauea', 


314 


crispus. 


283 


alba, 


47 


311 


obtusifolius, 


284 


arvensis. 


47 


cocciuea, 


315 


RCTACE.E, 


74 


nigra, 


47 


<iilcata, 


314 


RUTA, 


74 


Sisymbrium, 


44 



INDEX. 



441 





PAGE 




PAGE. 




PAGE. 


officinale, 


44 


Tecoma. 


220 


racemosa, 


293 




350 


radicans, 


221 


UjIBEmFEICE, 


145 




350 


Teucrium, 


240 


Urticace^, 


291 


heibacea, 


351 


Canadense, 


241 


Urtica, 


297 


rotundifolia, 


350 


Thalictrum, 


27 


dioica, 


298 




250 


Cornuti, 


27 


urens. 


298 




251 


Thuja, 


839 






Caroliniense, 


253 


occidentalis, 


340 


VAcaxiuM, 


209 


Dulcamara, 


251 


orientalis. 


340 


corymbosum. 


210 


esculentum, 


253 


Thymus, 

Serpylluni, 


236 


macrocarpon. 


209 


nigrum, 


251 


237 


Oxycoccus, 


210 


tuberosum, 


253 


vulgaris, 


236 


Peunsylvanicum, 


210 


SOUDAGO, 


175 


TlLIACE^, 


68 


vaccillans, 


210 


nemoralis. 


175 


TlLLi, 


68 


VAlERIANACEiE, 


165 


odora, 


175 


Americana, 


68 


Verbascum, 


224 


Soxcnus, 


205 


Europssea, 


68 


Blattaria, 
Lychnitis, 


224 


arvensis. 


206 


bcterophylla, 


69 


224 


asper, 


206 


pubesceus. 


69 


Thapsus, 


224 


oleraceus. 


205 


TiLLAXDSIA, 


349 


Verbenacea', 


228 


SORGHUSr, 


411 


usneoides. 


350 


Verbexa, 


228 


cernuum. 


412 


Tragopogo.v, 


203 


ofliciualis, 


228 


nutans , 


411 


porrifolium. 


203 


urticseiolia, 


228 


saccharatum 


412 


Trigoxelu, 


99 


Verxoxia, 


170 


vulgare, 


412 


coerulea, 


99 


Noveboracensis, 


170 


Spergula, 


60 


Trifoliuji, 


96 


Veronica, 


227 


arvensis, 


60 


agrarium. 


98 


poregrina, 


227 


SP1GELL4, 


165 


arvense. 


96 


Viburnum, 
Lontago, 


162 


Marilandica, 


165 


medium, 


98 


162 


Spin-acia, 


274 


pratense, 


97 


Opulus, 


163 


oleracea. 


274 


procumbens, 


99 


VlQA, 


106 




120 


reflexum, 


98 


sativa, 


106 


filipendula, 


120 


repens, 


98 


VlTACE^, 


SI 


opulifolia, 


120 


Etolonilerum; 


98 


Vms, 


81 


tomentosa, 


120 


Triosteum, 


161 


Eestivalis, 


82 


ulmifolia, 


120 


perfoliatum, 


161 


cordifolia. 


83 


Stellaria, 


59 


Trips A CUM, 

dactyloides, 


407 


Labrusca, 


82 


media. 


59 


407 


vinifera, 
vulpina, 


81 


SruPHORicARPrs, 


161 


Triticum, 


389 


84 


racemosus, 


161 


repens. 


390 




SYMPnTTTM, 


243 


vulgare. 


389 


Wistaria, 


101 


officinale, 


243 


Trop.tolace.'e, 


73 


Chenensis, 


102 


Symplocarpus, 


345 


Trop.eoi.um, 


73 


frutescens. 


102 


foetidus. 


345 


majus, 


73 






Syrixga, 


265 


TUSSILAGO, 


171 


XAXTtniTM, 


178 


Persica, 


265 


Farfara, 


171 


spinosum. 


179 


vulgaris. 


265 


Typhace^e, 


347 


strumarium. 


179 




Typha, 


347 






Tava cirruir 


189 


3,11 f^u s t ifolis, 


347 


ZLajcthoxyltjit 


75 


vulgare. 


189 


latifolia, 


347 


Americanum, 


75 


Taraxacum, 


203 






Carolinianum, 


76 


Dcns-leonis, 


203 


Ulmus, 


292 






fAXODIUlI, 


341 


alata. 


293 


Zea, 


407 


distichuEl, 


341 


Americana, 


292 


Mays, 


409 


^^accata 


343 


campestris, 


293 


Zisanaia, 
aqufiUca, 


370 


343 


fulva, 


292 


370 



INDEX 



OF 



EXGLISn AXD FOREIGN XAMES, 



[PrencTi, German aud SjKinish names in italics.] 



Tags 

Abdo-tree 332 

Aca<!ia, Rose 101 

Aconite 33 

Actinomeris, squarrose 182 

Ailanthus 76 

Alder 327 

" Candle 328 

" Common 328 

" Speckled 328 

" Black 217 

" mite 215 

Ale-hoof 234 

Almond 113 

" Flowering ]14 

Sweet. . 114 

" Bitter 114 

Alum-root 144 

Amaranth Family 275 

Amaranth 2T5 

" Green 275 

" Green-spiked 275 

" Thorny 278, 

Wliite 278 

American Aspen 330 

Andromeda 2L3 

Angelica Tree 156 

Apple 132 

" Common 132 

" Crab 134 

Ipricot 114 

Black 115 

" Common 114 

•* Mo'.T-Dark 114 

^ [442] 



Arbor- Title 339 

'• American 340 

" Chinese 340 

Arrow-head 347 

Artichoke 194 

Arum Family 344 

Ash 266 

Black 267 

Green 267 

" Red 267 

" Tl'ater 267 

" "White 26' 

Asparagus 35^ 

Aster 171 

China 172 

" Heath-like IT 2 

Avens 120 

PuriDle 121 

"■ Water 121 

TrAbricotier 114 

U Absinthe 190 

Accderilla 284 

Acelga 272 

Achicoria 200 

Aclcervyinde. Die 247 

Acore odorant 346 

Acoro Calamo 346 

Agripalma 240 

L Agripaume 240 

UAil -. 355 

A il de.s ] 'ig?ies 355 

Ajtdr'ea 23G 

Ajo.t 355 



Fags 

Mo.Tno de LomhaTdia 332 

AlbcMca 230 

Albaricoqui 11^ 

Alcachofa 195 

Alcaravia l^O 

Al/alfa 99 

AJgodon 67 

Alhma 265 

Aloudte Pied d' 31 

Amapola 40 

Amargon 

Ampfer. Krauser 284 

" Saner 2 84 

Andorn. Der JVeisse 238 

Anserine blanche 271 

Apfetbaum. Der 132 

Apio horteiue 150 

ApriJcosenbaiim. De?' 114 

L'Arachide 104 

Arbol de Castor 35 

Arroz 3G9 

Artickaud 195 

ArtischoJce. Die. 195 

Asperge 352 

Aubergine rouge. 253 

Avena 394 

Avoine cultivte 394 

" devee 396 

Axenjo 190 

Balm, Common 237 

Balsam Apple 141 

Barberry Family 37 

Barberry. 37 

Barbary Box-thorn 256 

Barley 392 

" Four-rowed 393 

" Two-rowed 393 

Basswood 68 

" mite 69 

Bastard Jasmine 256 

Bayberry 323 

Bead-tree Family 69 

Bead-tree 69 

Bean 107 

" Bupch 107 

" Carolma 107 

" Dwarf. 107 

" Horse 105 

" Kidney 107 

^ Lima 107 



Bean, MagotLv-bay. 

" Pole....' 

" String. . , 

" Windsor. ..... 

Bean-tree 

Bearberry 

Beard Grass 



Page 
110 

107 

107 

105 

222 

..... 211 

410 

Bee Balm 232 

Beech. American 319 

Beet, io-arden 272 

" Sugar 272 

Beggar's Lice 245 

Beggar-ticks 183 

Benne 223 

Bignonia Family 220 

Bilsted 145 

Bmd-weed 247 

Rough 350 

Birch Family 324 

Birch 324 

" Black 326 

" Canoe 325 

Cherry 327 

Paper 325 

Red 326 

- Sweet 327 

" White 325 

" Yellow 327 

Birthwort Family 268 

Birthwort 268 

Bitter-nut 306 

Bitter-sweet 252 

" '• Climbing 86 

Bitter- weed 176 

Blackberry 128 

La\vton 128 

" Sand 128 

Black Caps 127 

I Black Jack 313 

Black Thorn 115 

I Bladder Ketmia 67 

I Bleeding-heart 118 

I Blite, Strawberry 274 

I Bloodroot " 42 

Blueberry 209 

Dwarf. 210 

" Low 210 

" Swamp 211 

' Blue Bonnets, of the Scotch 194 

; Blue-bottle 194 



4M 



BluoDcTliS 242 

Blue Tanglea 208 

Blue-i7eed 242 

Bodock 297 

Boneset 170 

Borage Familj 241 

Bore-Cole 45 

Bouncing Bet 58 

Bow-wood 297 

Bosberry 213 

Bos- elder 92 

Bramble 125 

Brier, Running 127 

" Common 128 

Broccoli 45 

Buckeye 89 

Bed 88 

Buckthorn Family 85 

Buckthorn 85 

Buckwheat Bamilr 278 

Buckwheat 283 

Bulrush , 361 

Bugbane 33 

Bui^dock 200 

Bur-marigold 183 

Burning Bush 87 

Bush or High-cranberrr 163 

Butter and Eggs 225 

Buttercups 27 

Butterfly- weed 263 

Butter-nut 303 

Butter-weed 1*73 

Button-wood 301 

Barba Cabruna 203 

Barddna Lampazo 200 

Ba^aic 230 

Basilienkraut. Gemeines 230 

Bassinet 28 

Batata de 3Ialaga 247 

Bataten Winde 247 

Batatin 253 

Baume verte 231 

Baumwo.le. Die 67 

Berro 43 

Berza 44 

Bette-rave 272 

Birrdmum. Bcr 132 

Ble. U 8S9 

" Sar raisin 283 

Bluet 1S4 



?AG3 

BocJihart. i)er. . . . c . , . » . . .... 208 



I Bohne. Die geraeijie. 107 

I Bolsa de BoMor 50 

Bonnet de Pritre 142 

Baton de Oro. 28 

Bouillon hlanc 224 

Bourse de Bo^teur 50 

Brenn-essel. Die 298 

Brombeerstrauch. Der 12 S 

Brorne Seigle 3S6 

Bromo 386 

Brunela 238 

Brunelle. Gemeine ........ 238 

I Briinndle ordinaire 238 



BrunnenJcresse. Die 43 

Buche. Die 319 

Buchweitzen. Der 283 

Cabbage 44 



" Curled 45 

" Head 45 

Headless 45 

Savoy 45 

Tree 45 

" Turnij^-rooted 46 

York 45 

Calabash 138 

Calamus ; . 346 

Cahco Bush 214 

Camass 353 

Cane 388 

Cantaloupe 139 

Capsicum 255 

Caraway, Common 150 

Cardinal-flower 207 

Cai'doon .'*.'."...'... 194 

I Carolina-allspice Pamily 135 

I Carohna-allspice T 135 

\ Carolina Potato 247 

I Carpet-weed 59 

Carrot Garden 146 

TVild 146 

Castor-oil Plant 289 

I Catalpa 221 

Catmint 234 

I Catnip 234 

Cat-taU Pamilr 347 

j Cat-tad 347 

j Cauhflower 45 

Cedar, Deodar 339 



Cedar of LebauoiL 33.0 



l^-DEx■. 445 



Page 



C«dar White 340 

" Red 212 

Celandine 41 

Oelery 150 

-'■entaurj 260 

'chamomile, Garden 185 

•Jliariock 47 

" Jointed 54 

Cheat 386 

wheckerherry 212 

Gbj.Ty 115 

" Black 119 

" Choke 119 

" English lis 

" Evergreen 119 

" Morello 118 

*' Mountain 117 

" Red 118 

" Sour 118 

" Wild 119 

" Wild Red. 118 

Chess 386 

" Upright 387 

Chestnut, American 318 

" Spanish 318 

Chick weed, Indian 59 

" Larger Mouse-ear. . . 59 

" Mouse-ear 59 

Chinquapin 319 

Chives or Gives 357 

Cichory 200 

Cinque-foil 122 

Citron 140 

Clot-bur 178 

' Thorney 180 

Clover 96 

" Buffalo 98 

" " (Running) 98 

" Bokhara 99 

" Common 97 

" Dutch 98 

" Hop 98 

" " (Low) 99 

" Red 97 

" Stone 96 

" Tree 99 

" Welsh 96 

" White 98 

" YeUow 98 

Zigzag 98 



Cockle-bur ... 179 

Colts-foot 171 

Comfrey 243 

Composite Family 168 

Cone-flower o^.. 180 

Convolviilus Family 246 

Cooper's Reed , 347 

Coriander 153 

Com, Broom 412 

" Chocolate 412 

" Guinea 412 

" Indian 407 

Corn-cockle 56 

Corn-mint 231 

Corn-salad 166 

Cornel Family. 157 

Cotton-plant 67 

Cotton-wood 331 

Cow Bane 148 

" Spotted 152 

Cowslip 30 

Cranbeny 209 

" Smah 210 

" Upland 211 

Cranberry-tree 163 

Cranes-bill 71 

Crowfoot Familj^ 26 

Crowfoot , 27 

Cucumber 138 

" Jerusalem , . 140 

" . Prickly 140 

" One-seeded Star 141 

Cucumber-Tree, Yellow 35 

" " Ear-leaved 35 

Cudweed 191 

Currant Family 136 

Currant, Black* 137 

Red 137 

Currants, Zante 82 

Custard- Apple Family 36 

Cymling 142 

Cypress 340 

" Bald 341 

Cypress Yine 249 

Calahaza , 138 

Callehas&e 138 

Cameline culitvte 50 

Camomille romaim.. 186 

Cana 387 

" de 'Azucar 410 



446 



INDEX. 



Tags 

Gaf^,m. 299 

OcTJU d. Siici''. . , . , 410 

Cap'u-Cfiuuz . r < o 

CvpucinC. GrcAd£ '73 

Cardmcfi'i 168 

Ccrdo 195 

airoite 1J:6 

airvi 150 

Ccssb 137 

Ocistaho 318 

" de Indicts 8S 

Celada 393 

CehoUa 356 

Cebollino 357 

Ceguda 153 

Celeri. Celeri. Der 150 

Centeno 392 

Cerezo 118 

Cerisier. Le 118 

Chantre. Ilerhe au 44 

Ciianvre. Le 299 

Chardon aux Anes 197 

" a Foulon 168 

" lanceole 195 

Chataignier. Le 318 

Chicoree sauvage 200 

Chien-deJit 390 

Chirivia 147 

Cnoiifleurpoiager 44 

Cidno 194 

Ciboulette 357 

C'ii'/ue ordinaire 153 

Cdantro 155 

Citroiiille. La grosse 142 

C'ognassi(T. Le 134 

Concombre. Le 139 

Corazonculo 54 

Coriandre 155 

Correguela 247 

Cotonnier. Le 67 

Cotufa.... 181 

C'resson — Alenois 51 

" de fontaine 43 

Daisy 174 

•• Ox-eye ISS 

Damascene 115 

Dangle-berry 208 

Dandelion 203 

" Fall 202 

Darnf^l 383 



Date Plum 218 

Dead-nettle 239 

DeTil-wood 26G 

Dew-berrv 127 

Dock. . . 283 

'• Bitter 284 

" Broad-leaved. 284 

" Curled 283 

" Narrow 283 

" Sour 283 

Dog's Fennel 185 

Dogwood, Common. 157 

Dodder 249 

Door-weed 381 

Drop-wort 120 

Dr. Tinkers T\'eed IGl 

Duke of Ai'gvles Tea-tree 256 

Durra T. 412 

Dutchman's Pipe 268 

Dyer's Green Y^eed 86 

IJactgle Pelotonnc 376 

Dame d'onze heures... 353 

Dent de Lion 203 

Ebony Family 217 

Egg Plant 253 

Eiderbusb 162 

Elder. Common 162 

Elecampane ■. 175 

Elm 292 

American 292 

" Corky ^Vliite 293 

" English 293 

" Eecl 292 

" Slippery 292 

" Yreeping 292 

" Y'hite 292 

" Yluged 2t)3 

En.slenia 263 

European Olive 266 

Evening Primrose Family 135 

Evenino: Prunrose 136 

Eve-brio-ht 206 288 

Dndibicr. 202 

Dndivie. Die 202 

Epinard des polagers 275 

Erbse. Gemeine. 106 

Erd-Artischolce. Die 181 

Erdbeerpflwize. Die 123 

Erd-nuss. Die o . . 104 

Esdragon 100 



INDEX. 



447 



Tags 

Sspads^M. oJ^T 

Espdrrago 352i 

Espindca 2 To 

Eafucla de Caballero 31 

Esiragon 190 

Edramonio 25S 

Fennel, Garden 149 

Fever-bush 286 

Fever-root 161 

Fever- vrort 161 

Fig-tree 294: 

Fig-wort Familv 223 

FUbert ' 320 

" Wild o 322 

Fin Balmof Gilead. 337 

*• Bakapa 337 

Double Balsam 337 

'• Norway 33S 

Fire-#\'eed 191 

Five-fiager 122 

Flax Family 70 

Flax... "70 

'* Mountain 93 

" False 49 

" Wild 50 

Flax-vine 2-49 

Fiea-bane 174 

Flower-of-an-liour 67 

Foxglove 220 

Fringe-tree -. 260 

Faerber-Rodhe. Die 165 

Fasoles 107 

Feicrenhaum. Der 294 

Fenchel. Der 149 

Femml 149 

E'ece de Marais 105 

F^cier a trois Epines. Le Ill 

Figuier. Le 294 

Fil de terre 249 

Flachs. Gemeiner 10 

Flachshraut. Das 225 

Flachs-seide. Die 249 

Fledes des I'rts 372 

F/dhkraut 279 

Fjouvz odorante 393 

Foin de Mouton 396 

Frakier. Le 123 

FJramhoiner 126 

Frambiieso 126 

Fresera ..... ,.. , , 123 



Pag 6 

From.nt. Le 389 

Gage 115 

Galingale, Bristle-spiked 359 

Garget 270 

Garlic 354 

" Crow 355 

" English 355 

" Field 355 

" Garden 355 

" Meadow 355 

Gentian Family 260 

Gentian, Horse 161 

Geranium 71 

Germander 240 

Gherkins 140 

Gill 234 

Gingko 3^3 

Ginseng FamUy l55 

Ginseng l55 

Grape, Bullet or Bull 84 

Chicken S3 

" Common Wild 82 

" Catawba 82 

" Foreign 81 

" Northern Fox 82 

Southern Fox 84 

" Frost S3 

'■■ Isabella 82 

" Little 82 

" Wine 81 

" Winter 83 

Grass, Family 305 

Grass Barn-vard 403 

Beach 376 

" Beard 410 

" Bengal 406 

" Bent 373 

" (Eeed) 376 

" Bermuda 377 

" Black? , 358 

Blue 383 

" Blue Joint 376 

" Bottle 404 

" Brome 386 

(Smooth) 387 

" Bur 406 

" Canary 398 

" " (Reed) 400 

" CatVtail . 372 

" Cock's-lbot 379 



448 



INDEX. 



Page 



nrasa Coec? 3 GO 

Coucla 390 

■• Ci-ab 378 

K Crab 402 

" (Smooth) 402 

Crowfoot 378 

' Cat 379 

■' Dog'p-tail S73 

' Dog's-tooth 377 

Drop-seed 375 

" Feather 396 

Pescue 385 

" " (Meadow) 385 

" " (Tall) 385 

Finger 402 

" " Fioriu " 375 

" Fox tail 370 

" " (Common) 372 

" " (Meadow) 372 

" Foxtail 404 

" " (Bristly) 404 

'* (Green) 404 

Garaa 407 

" Green 383 

" Hedgehog 406 

" Herds (of New England 

and New York) 372 

Herds (of Pennsylvania) . 373 

'* Indian 411 

" " (Finger-spiked)... 411 

" " (Oat like) 411 

" Manna 381 

Mat 376 

" Meadow 381 

« " (Dwarf) 382 

" (Early) 382 

" " (Flat stalked)... 383 

" " (Fowl) 382 

" (Rough) 382 

(Smooth) 383 

" Nut (of Florida)? 359 

" (ofS. Carolina)?.. . . 360 

" Oat 396 

Old-witch 403 

" Orchard 379 

" Panic 401 

" Quitch 390 

" Ray or Eye 389 

Reed 387 

" Sedge? 362 



Grass Sesame .... . , . , 407 

" Spear 383 

" Sweet-scented Ycrnal. . . 398 

" Velvet S93 

"Wire 383 

" AYood (Purple)... e..... 411 

" Yard 378 

Grass of the Andes 396 

Green-brier 350 

Ground-Cherry 256 

Ground Ivy 234 

Ground-nut 104 

Groundsel 192 

Goats-foot 151 

Goats- weed 151 

Golden-rod 175 

" Sweet 175 

Gold of Pleasure 50 

Goldthread 30 

Gooseberry 136 

Goosefoot Family 270 

Goosefoot, Maple-leaved 271 

Goose-grass 281 

Gourd Family 138. 

Gourd, Bottle 138 

Gromwell 243 

Gum, Black 159 

" Sour 159 

Gaemefuss. Der 271 

Gm^ance. La 164 

Garhanxo 103 

Garten-kresse. Die, 51 

Gatem 234 

Gente. Gemeine 393 

Glou'eron 2O0 

Gordolobo 224 

Gremil des champs 243 

Groseillier rouge 137 

" vrai 136 

Gidmnte 106 

Gundelrebe. Die 234 

GurJce. Die „ 139 

Gurkenhaiim. Der . 35 

Hack-berry 294 

Hackmatack 339 

Hardback... ... 120 

Hawkbit 202 

Hawthorn 131 

Hazle-nut 320 

Beaked 322 



IXDEX. 



441) 



Eeal-all. 



Heath. Fa 7r .f]% 



233 
207 



Hemlock 337 

" Ground 343 

" Common 153 

" Poison 153 

" Water 152 

Hemp 299 

Henbane „ 257 

" Black or Common 258 

Hen-bit 239 

Herb Geracle 151 

Hercules' Club 156 

Hickory 304 

Broom 306 

Mocker-nut 306 

" Pecan. 304 

" Pio--nut 306 

" Shag or Shell-bark 304 

•• Small-fruited 306 

" Thick Shell-bark 305 

" T\'hite-heart 306 

Hoarhound 238 

Ho.2--Apple 38 

Holly Family 216 

Holly, American 216 

Honeysuckle Family. 160 

HoneVsuckle, Italian 160 

Trumpet 161 

AYild 160 

Hop-vine 300 

Hornbeam , . , 322 I 

Hop 323 

Horse-chestnut 88 

English 88 

" Eed-flowerino;. . . 88 

Horse-flr Weed . . 108 

Horse-mint 232 

Horse-nettle 254 

Horseradish 48 

Horse Sugar 218 

Horse-vreed 173 

Hound's-tongue 245 

Huckleberry 208 

Black 208 

D^arf 209 

Sugar 210 



t _ Pagh 

i Hafer. Gemeiner 394 

i " liVfee/z S96 

EmvF. Der 299 

: Haricot 107 

I HasenJdee. Der 96 

; Hay a 319 

Hederich. Der 44 

Herhe au Chardre 44 

" aux Chats 234 

" aux Viper es 242 

IleTzgc-s-pann. Das 240 

Uetre. Le 319 

Hgulra 294 

Emheerdaude. Die 126 

Hinojo 144 

Hirtentasche. Die 50 

Hiscpo 235 

Hohlon .. . . . \ \ \ . . . 300 

Hmig-dorn. Der Ill 

Ilonig- grass. Wolliges 396 

Hopfen. Der 300 

Hnuhlon 300 

Hrjiique laineuse 396 

Hysope 235 

Imphee 412 

Indian-cresG Family 73 

Indian-cress 73 

Indian Sage 170 

Indian Turnip 344 

Indigo 102 

False 107 

" Wild 108 



Tall. 

Hyssop, Garden. 
Hab'i..., 



211 
235 
105 



Ink-berry 217 

Iron- weed 170 

Iron A\'ood 322 

Ivory Plum 213 

Ivy 157 

" American 84 

" English 157 

" Irish. 157 

Indigo 102 

IndigopfMnze. Die 102 

L' Tndigotier 102 

I Isop. Der 235 

j Ivraie vivace 389 

I Jame.stovm-Tveed. 258 

; Jerusalem Artichoke ISl 

I Jinkgo 844 

Judas-tree 108 

Juniper 342 



450 



IXDEX. 



Jar imago 4^ 

Jokanni&beere. Gemeine 137 

Schicarze 137 

JrohannisJcra'd,. Das 54 

Joyo 389 

Kentucky Coffee-tree 110 

Kentucky ilahogany 110 

Knap-T^'eed 194 

Knot-grass 281 

Knotweed 278 

Spotted, 279 

Kohl-EaM ^45 

Kalamus. Der 346 

Kamille. Die 186 

Slinkende - . 185 

Kartendistel. Aechte 168 

Kartoffel. Die 253 

Kalzenmuenze. Die 234 

Kermesbcere. Die 270 

Kicher. Gemeine 103 

KirscJthauni. Der 118 

Klee. Ifmser OS 

" Der Wiesai 97 

Klctte. Die 200 

Knauel-gras. Gencines 379 

Knoblauch. Der 355 

Koid. Der 44 

Koriander. Der 155 

Korn hlume. Die 194 

Kratsdistel. Die 195 

" Die Acker 197 

Kresse. Kajniziner 73 

Kuenimel. Gemeiner 150 

Kuerhiss. Der 138 

Lady's Thumb 279 

Lambkill 214 

Lamb's Lettuce 166 

Lamb's Quarters 271 

Larcli 338 

" American 339 

" Black. 339 

'• White 339 

Larkspur 31 

Larkspur, Bee 32 

Laurel Family 285 

Laurel, American 213 

Dwarf. 214 

Great 214 

" Mountain 214 

" Sheep. . . . : 214 



Tagh 

Lavender, Garden 230 

Leek. Garden 356 

LentU 105 

Lettuce, Garden 205 

Lever- wood 323 

Life-everlasting 191 

LHac 265 

" Persian 265 

Lily Family 351 

Lily 357 

" Day 352 

" Japan 357 

" Tiger 357 

" Turk's cap 357 

White 357 

" Wild Yellow 357 

Lime-tree 68 

Linden Family. 68 

Linden, European 68 

Linn..' 08 

Liver-leaf 26 

Liverwort 27 

Lobelia Family .206 

Lobeha 206 

Locust-tree IOC 

Locust 101 

" Clammy 101 

Long Moss. . /. 349 

Love- Apple 250 

Lucerne 99 

Luzerne. French 99 

Laitne. La 205 

Laraicr. Le 239 

Larapazo pequeho 199 

Lanq.ourde 179 

Lauch. Der 355 

Lav.ch. Der Acker 355 

" Gemeiner 356 

Der Schnitt 357 

" Weinbergs 355 

Lecliuga 205 

Leindotter. Der 50 

Lenf^a 1'05 

LentUle. La 105 

Lepidio 51 

Liebes-Apfel. Der 250 

Lierre terrestre 234 

T/in. Lino 70 

Lincrria 225 

Linde, Die, 63 



INDEX. 



451 



Pjge 

Linst. Gemeine 105 

Liseron des champs 2^7 

Llanten 215 

L-osicenzahn. Der 203 

Lolch. Ausdauernder 3S9 

Luzerne. La S9 

Madder PanLily 163 

Madder \ 163 

Dyer's 164 

Madeira Xut 302 

Maize ^ 409 

Magnolia Family ' 34 

Magnolia, Great-leaved 35 

' " ' Small 34 

" Laurel 34 

Mallow Family 63 

Mallow ' 64 

" Indian 65 

" Marsh 63 

Eose 67 

ilallovrs, Running- Low 64 

^fandrake 38 

Muii-c-1 T\'urt7.el 274 

Ma-y-berry 294 

Maple Family. 89 

Mcjple " 89 

Ash-leared 92 

•• Bird' eje 90 

Black Sugar 90 

•'• Curled . 92 

Greater 89 

Nor war 90 

Red 91 

" Silver-leaved 90 

'• Sugar 90 

Swamp 91 

'• "White 90 

Mar-'^ram Sweet 236 

Siar^h Marigold 30 

Mastervrort 143 

M_a:iimony-vine 256 

lly.y Apple 38 

May- weed 185 

Meadow-rue 27 

Meadow-sweet 120 

Me dick 99 

" Black 100 

Melilot 99 

Melon. 138 

" Musk 139 

Water 140 



Pagb 

Mexican Tea , 2" 2 

Milibil 18- 

Milkwort Family 92 

Milkwort 92 

Milkweed Familv 261 

Milkweed..../. -. 261 

Millet 406 

Indian 412 

Mint Family 223 

Mmt 230 

Common 231 

Mistletoe Family 286 

Mistletoe 287 

False 287 

Mccker-nut 306 

Monkshood 33 

Morning-glory 249 

Mother- wort 239 

Mountain Ash, American 134 

•• European 134 

Mouth-root 31 

Mulberry 295 

European Black 296 

Red 295 

White 224 

MuUein Common 224 

Moth. 224 



" White.. 

Muscadine 

Mustard Familv, 
Mustard, Black. 

" Uedge. 

" White. 
Wild.. 



, 224 

....... e , 84 

42 

47 

44 

47 

47 

Magnolier. Le 35 

Major an. Der 236 

Majorana , 236 

Malva de hoja redonda , 64 

j Jlahe. Rundlae'.trige 64 

I Mangold. Gerneiner 272 

'31am 104 

Manne de Prusse 381 

Manzanilla 186 

felida 185 

Manzdno 132 

Margarita mayor 189 

Marjolaine. La , 236 

Maroute 185 

Maromiicr d' Lnde , 88 

Mar rub blaroc 238 

Murrubio 238 



452 



TXDEX. 



PAGB 

Masse d'eau 347 

Maulheere Weisse 295 

Mauve. Petite 64 

Mclilot Uanc. Le 99 

Meliloto 99 

Melisa 237 

Melisse. Die. Mellisse. La 237 

Melocoion. EL 113 

Melon. 3Ielone. Die 139 

Melon armizcleho 139 

3Ielon d'eau 140 

Melone. Die Wasser 140 

Mcmhrillero 134 

Menta piperita 231 

" puntiaguda 231 

Menthe. La 231 

Mielga 99 

Milenrama 187 

3IillefeuiUe. La 187 

Mdlepertuis 54 

3Ioehre. Die 146 

Morelle a Grappes 270 

" 7ioire 251 

Nor era 295 

Mostazo 47 

" bianco 47 

Moutarde blanche 47 

des Capucim 48 

noire 47 

Muflier linaire 225 

Miirier blanc 295 

Nasturtium 73 

Neckweed 227 

Nectarine 113 

Nettle Family 291 

JiTettle 297 

*• Small Stinging 299 

' Stinging 298 

" Wood 299 

.!^iettle-tree 293 

Nightshade Family. 250 

Nightshade 251 

" Woody 252 

Night Willow herb 136 

Nimble Will 375 

Nine Bark 121 

Nonesuch 100 

Nachtschatten. Eifruechtiger... ... 253 

" Der Schwarze 251 

KatierJcopf. Der 242 

Neouillon 56 



Face 

Nielle des Bles. La 56 

Noguera £02 

Noyer commun 302 

Oak Family 307 

Oak 307 

" Barren 313 

" Barrens White 308 

Bear 315 

" Black 315 

" Bur 308 

" Chestnut 311 

" Chestnut White 310 

" Chinquapin 311 

" Common White 309 

" Laurel 813 

" Live 312 

" Mossy-cup White 308 

" Over-cup 308 

" Pin 317 

'• Post 308 

" Eed 316 

" Eough 308 

" Scarlet 316 

" Scrub . . . *. 315 

" Shingle 313 

Spanish 315 

" Swamp Chestnut 310 

" Swamp Spanish 317 

Water 314 

Willow CI 2 

" Yellow 311 

Yellow-barked 315 

Oat 393 

Oats, Common 394 

" " Skinless " 395 

Okra 66 

Olive Family 264 

Onion C54 

" Garden 356 

Osage-orange 297 

Osier 328 

" Golden 329 

Oswego Tea 232 

Oyster-plant 203 

U(Eil de bceiif 189 

LOignon 356 

Orge commune 393 

Ornitogalo 353 

Ortie. Grande 298 

Ortiga 298 

" muerta, 839 



IXDEX. 



453 



Page 

(hseiUe. Fcide 284 

Palma Christi 289 

Panax, Five-leaved 156 

Papaw 36 

Paper Mulberry 296 

Parsley Pamily 145 

Parsley 152 

" Curled 152 

" Fools 151 

Parsnip 147 

Cow 148 

" Garden 147 

" Guernsey 147 

AVild 149 

Partridge-berry , 213 

Paspalum 401 

Paulo wnia 226 

Pea lOG 

" Chick 103 

" Coffee 103 

" Everlasting. 106 

" Garden 106 

" Haraoos 103 

" Sensitive 110 

" Sweet 106 

Peach 112 

Peach-tree 113 

Peanut 103 

Pear 132 

Pear-tree 132 

Pecan-nut 304 

Pennsylvanian Polj-gonuin 279 

Pennyroyal, American 232 

Pepper, Bird 255 

Cayenne 255 

Ped * 255 

Pepper-busli, Sweet 215 

Peppergrass 50 

Wild 52 

Pepper-mint 231 

Pepperidge 159 

Persimmon 217 

Pigeon-berry 270 

Pine Family. 333 

Pine 334 

" Jersey 335 

» Loblolly 335 

" Long-leaved 336 

" New England 336 

" Northern Yellow 335 



Pags 

Piue, Norvray 335 

" Old Field „ 335 

" Pitch 335 

" Red 335 

" Scrub 335 

" Southern Yellow S36 

" Weymouth.. . ." 336 

" White 336 

Pink Family 56 

Pink, Carolina or Indian 165 

Pink-root 165 

Pin- weed 71 

Pipe-vine 268 

Pipsissewa 215 

Plane-tree Family 301 

Plane-tree 301 

Plantain Family 218 

Plantain 218 

" Buckhorn 220 

" Common 218 

•' English 220 

P]euri.?y-root 264 

Plum 115 

" Bullace 115 

" Beach 116 

" Chickasaw IIT 

" Common 115 

" Red 116 

" Sand 116 

Yellow^ 116 

Poison Elder ^19 

Poison-ivy 80 

Poison-oak 80 

Poison vine 80 

Pokevreed Family 270 

Pokeweed 270 

Poke 270 

Poplar 330 

" Athenian 331 

" Balsam 332 

Itahan 332 

Large 330 

Lombardy 332 

Silver 832 

Poplar, Tuhp 35 

" Yellow 35 

Poppy Family 40 

Poppy, Field 40 

Opium 40 

" Prickly....- 40 



454 



IXDEX. 



Page 

Fotato... . -. 251 

" Common 253 

" Irish 253 

Fotentilla, Norwegian 122 

Prickly Ash 75 

Northern 76 

" South .-ru 76 

Pride of India 69 

Prim 265 

Prince's Featlier 279 

Privet 265 

Puccoon 42 

Pulse Family 93 

Pumpkin 142 

Purslane Family 62 

Purslane 62 

Black 288 

Milk 288 

Panais potager. 147 

Pappel. Lomhardische 332 

Fa&tnake. Die. 147 

Pastisson 142 

Pat ate jaune 247 

Patendtres. Arhre aux 69 

Patience f rises ^ 284 

Paturin annuel 382 

" applati 383 

desPres 383 

Pavot hCitard . . . , 40 

Pecker. Le 113 

Pepino 139 

Peral. El 132 

Perexil 152 

Persiccnre, 279 

Per dear ia 279 

Persil 152 

Petersilee. Die 152 

Peuplier Italien 332 

Pfeffer. Spanischcr 255 

Pfeffermuenze. Die 231 

Pjirsehenbaum. Der 113 

Pied d' Alouette 31 

Pied de Lievre 96 

Pimentero. El 255 

plantain ordinaire 218 

Plaqueminier. Le 218 

Poirier. Le 132 

Pois Chiche. Le 103 

Pois cultive. . , . 106 

Poivre d' Inde. 255 



PaG3 

Pomme d' Amour. . , , , 258 

Pomme epineuse 258 

Pomme de terre , 253 

Pommier. Le 132 

Porreau.. 356 

Portulak. Gemeiner 62 

Potiron 142 

Pour pier potager 62 

Pseudo-lotus. Der. 218 

Puerro 356 

Quamash, Eastern 353 

Quercitron ' [ 315 

Quincto-tree 134 

Quecke. Gemeine 39O 

Qui/te?nbaum. Der 134 

Pabbit-foot [[[\ 96 

Raccuon-berry 38 

Radish. Garden , , . . 52 

" Spanish 54 

" . Black Turnip 54 

Wild 54 

Ragged Robin 194 

Ragged Sailor 279 

Rag- weed 176 

" Great 176 

Ragwort, Golden 193 

Ranstead-weed 225 

Raspberry, Antwerp I2u 

'* Black 127 

" Garden 126 

" Rose-tloweriug 125 

" White-floweriug. . . . 126 

" Wild 127 

Wild Red 126 

Rattle Bush 108 

Rhubarb 284 

Red-bud 108 

Red- top 373 

" False 382 

Reed 370 

" Sea-sand 376 

" Small (Canadian) 376 

Reed 387 

Reed-mace 347 

Ribgrass 220 

Rice 369 

" Common 369 

" False 369 

" Indian..., 370 

" A[nuatain 370 



IXDEX. 



P^GE 



Eice. Upland 370 

" ' ^Viid 369 

Rose Family 112 

Rose 129 

" Cherokee 130 

Ciimbiuo- 130 

" Dwarf Wnd 130 

•'• Prairie 130 

Swamp 130 

Guelder 163 

Rose Bay 214 

Rose-campion 56 

Rose of Sharon €7 

Rue Family '7-4 

Rue. Garden 7-1 

Rush Family 358 

Rush 358 

" Common 358 

" Soft 358 

*• Chair-maker's 361 

Ruta-baga 46 

Ilye 392 

•• Common 392 

Maiano 48 

'Hade. Gemeine.... 56 

Eadis. Raifort 52 

liainfarrn. Der 189 

RarMiikel. KnoUigcr 28 

ReliiL-asen 383 

Rem. Der 369 

ReUig. Der 52 

Der Jlcer 48 

Rkeiniceide. Gemeine 265 

Ribes negra 137 

" roja 137 

Ricin ordinaire. Le 289 

Ricino 289 

Ris^jenyras. Jaehriges 382 

M'iesen , . . . 383 

Riltersporn. Der 31 

Riz. Le. . 369 

Roggen. Gemeiner 392 

Roggen-Trespe 386 

Rohr Gemeines 387 

RohrJcolbe. Die 347 

Rome. La 128 

Roquette des Jardins 43 

Roseau a balais 387 

Rosfkastanis. Die 88 

Ruhia , 164 



450 

Pagh 

Ruch-gras. Das. , , . , , 393 

Sao-e/ Garden 233 

Salad 205 

" Curled 205 

" Head 205 

Salishuria 344 

Salsify 203 

Sarsaparilla 156 

False 156 

AVdd 155 

Sassafras 285 

Saxifrage Familj- 143 

Saxifrao-e, Pennsylvania 143 

" ^ Tall 143 

Scarcity Root 274 

Scury-grass 43 

Sedge Family 358 

Sedge 361 

■ " Tussock 363 

Self-heal 237 

Seneka Snake -root 93 

Senna. American 109 

Wild 109 

Se.same 223 

Sheep-berry 162 

Shepherds Purse 5C 

Shrubby Althas 61 

Sida 65 

Silkweed 261 

Silver Bell 218 

Skunk Cabbage 346 

Sloe 115 

Smart-Aveed 281 

Smilax Familv 350 

Snakeroot, Tall 34 

Black 34 

" Canada 269 

" Virginia 269 

Sneeze- wort 187 

Snowball 163 

Snowberry.. 161 

Soap berry Family . . , 87 

Soap-wort 58 

Sorgho 412 

Sorghum 411 

Sorrel. Field 284 

" Sheep 284 

Sow-thistle 205 

Common 205 

Spiny-leaved.... ... 206 



456 



Page 

Spanish Xeedles 18-i 

Spearmint 231 

Speedwell, Purslane 227 

Spice- wood 286 

Spikenard 155 

Spinach or Spinage 274 

Spindle Tree 87 

Spoon- wood 214 

Spruce „ 337 

'• Black 338 

" Double 338 

" Hemlock 337 

Norway 338 

" Single 338 

" "White 338 

Spurge Familj 287 

Spurge 287 

" Caper 288 

" Spotted 288 

" Largo Spotted 288 

Spurge-nettle 289 

Spurrey GO 

" Corn 61 

Squash 142 

Long-necked 143 

" Round 142 

" Warted 143 

Squaw- weed „ 193 

Squill 353 

Stagger-bush ,e.. 213 

Statr-tree Familj^ 86 

Staff-tree 86 

Star of Bethlehem 352 

Star-thistle 193 

Steeple Bush 120 

Stickseed 244 

" Narrow-leaved 245 

St. John's-wort Family 54 

St. John's-wort 54 

Stone-w-eed 243 

Strawberry, English 123 

Garden 123 

Wild 125 

Strawberry-bush 135 

Styptic W^eed. 110 

Succory 200 

" Garden 202 

" ^YM 200 

Sugar-berrj'- 294 

Sugar Cane. 410 



Pagr 

Sugar, Cliinese . 412 

Sumach . . 11 

" Chinese , 76 

" Common TS 

Dwarf 78 

Poison 79 

Smooth 78 

" Stag-horn 78 

" Venetian 81 

Sunflower 181 

Summer Savory 235 

Swamp Dogwood 1^ 

Sweet-basil 229 

Sweet Bay 3-1 

Sv/eet Brier 130 

Sweet-scented Crab-trce 134 

Sweet Fern 324 

Sweet Flag 346 

Sweet Gale Family 323 

Sweet Gale 324 

Sweet-gum I"t5 

Sweet Potato 247 

S weet-scented Slnub 135 

Sycamore 89 301 

Saat-Molin. Der ^0 

Salat. Der 205 

Salhie. Die 233 

Salsijis 203 

Salvia 233 

Sandia 140 

Sarricitc. La 236 

Saturey. Die 236 

Sau Bohne. Die 103 

Sauge. La 233 

Scarole. La 202 

Schafgarhe. Die 18*7 

Schierling. Der , 153 

Sclmeckenklee. Der. 99 

Scliivingel. Essbarer 381 

Seigle. Le 392 

Sen/. Schwarzer... . 47 

' ' IVeisser 

Serpolet 237 

Spargel. Der 352 

S-pinat. Der 275 

Spitzklette. Die... 179 

Spitzmuenze. Die. . 231 

Stachelbeere. Die 136 

Stechapfel. Der. 258 

SteinlJe. Wdsser &9 



INDEX. 



457 



Fags 

Steinsame Acker 243 

Tamarack . . 339 

Tansy 189 

Tare 61 106 

Tarragon 190 

Tea-berry 213 

Tear-thumb, xVrrovv-leaved 282 

" Ilalberd-leaved 282 

Teasel Family 167 

Teasel 167 

" Fuller's 168 

" Wild 167 

Ten o'clock 353 

Thistle 195 

" Canada 197 

" Common 195 

" Cursed 197 

" Pasture 196 

" Yellow 197 

Cotton 199 

Thimble-berry 127 

Thorn, Cockspur 131 

" English 131 

" Xevv Castle 131 

A^irginia 131 

" A^'ashington 131 

Thorn-apple 258 

Thorough -stem 170 

Thorough-wort 170 

Thyme 236 

Creeping 237 

" Garden 236 

" Standing 236 

Timothy (of Pennsylvania, &c.). 372 

• • V\liite. 396 

Toad-flax 225 

Tobacco.. 259 

" Indian 206 

Tomato 250 

" Cherry 251 

" Strawberrj^ 256 

Tongue-grass 51 

Tootliache-tree 76 

Tread-softly 289 

Trefoil, Spanish 99 

Trumpet-creeper 221 

Trumpet-flower 220 

- Tulip-tree 35 

Tupelo 159 

Turnip 44 

20 







Turnip Common 


46 




, 46 




259 


Taback. Dcr 


259 




259 




189 




189 




239 






Tilleul. Le 


... 68 


Tilo 


63 




250 


Tomillo 


237 




181 


Trebol 


97 


'• bianco 


98 


Trefle blanche 


98 


" des Frts 


97 






' ' Saraceno 


283 


TrioUt 




Trctne. Le 




Tulqncr. Le , 




Tidpenhaum. Dcr 




Umbrella Tree 




Unicorn-plant 


2'^2 


Uva-ursi 




Uva espina 




Yalerian Family 


165 


Yegetable Marrow. . . . 


138 












228 




106 




162 




81 




84 




241 










Vieh-gras. Das 


383 




81 


Vugelmilch. Die 


353 


Y^ahoo 






202 


Y^alnut 




Black „ . 






302 


Yliite 


303 


AVater Beech 





458 



INDEX. 



Pj.gr 

Water-cress 43 

Water-oats.. 370 

Water-Plantain JBamily 347 

Water-pepper 281 

Wax-myrtle 324 

AVax Pinks 63 

Wax-work 86 

Way-bread 218 

Wheat, Spring 389 

Winter 3S9 

Whin 96 

White-weed.. 189 

White wood 68 

Wild Allspice 286 

Wild Columbo 260 

Wild Ginger 269 

Wild Hyacinth. 353 

Wild Ipecac. 289 

Wild Lemon 38 

WiUow Pamily 328 

Willow, Basket 328 

Bedford 329 

" Drooping. 329 

" AVeeping 329 

AYhite..... 329 

" Yellow 329 

Winter-berry 217 

Winter-cress 43 

Wintergreen 213 

Wistaria 101 

" Chinese 102 

Woody 102 

Witch-hazel Pamilj. . , , , 144 

Witck-ha^el. IM 



Woad-waxen 96 

Wolfs-bane 33 

AVoodbine, American. 160 

Wood Sage 240 

Wood-sorrel Family 72 

Wood-sorrel 72 

Worm-grass 165 

Wormwood 190 

Waizen. Gemeiner 389 

Wallnus. Die 302 

Wegclritt. Der grosse 218 

Weyeivart. Der 200 

Wein&toch Der 81 

Wermiiih. Der 190 

Wiesen-Lieschgras. Das 372 

Winter-kresse. Die 43 

WoUkraut. Das 224 

Wuclurhlume. Die 189 

Wunderhaum. Der 289 

Yarrow 187 

Yaupon...,....o 217 

Yew, American 343 

" Common 343 

Yedra ierredre 234 

Yerha Carmin.. 270 

^' Blora 251 

" de Santa Barbara 4? 

" de la Vibora 242 

Zanahoria 146 

Zarza 128 

Zederach. Der 69 

Zuchcr-rohr. Aechtes 410 

ZwicbeL Die , « 356 



NAMES 



OF THE 



PLi^NTS ILLUSTRATED IN THIS WORK. 



^ctinoraeris, Squarrose 182 

Amaranth, Thorny 277 

" Reflexed 276 

Apple 133 

Ash, Pricklj 75 

Arrowhead 348 

Avens, Water 121 

Barberry. 37 

Barley, 2-rowed 394 

Bearberry 211 

Bind- weed 248 

Birch, Black or Red 326 

" Canoe or Paper 325 

" Sweet or Cherry 327 

White 325 

Blue-bottle 194 

Bugloss, Viper's 242 

Cfu^ex 364 

Carrot 147 

Celandine 41 

Checkerberry 212 

Cherrx^, Garden 117 

ChcW or Cheat 386 

Chickweed 60 

Cichory or Succory, Wild 201 

Clot-bur, Thorny 179 

Clover, Red 97 

Cockle-bur 178 

Corn-cockle 57 

Cotton-wood 331 

Cranes-bill 12 

Crowfoot, TaU 29 

Cucumber 139 



Cypress i]41 

Dandelion 204 

Dogwood, Flowering 158 

Enslenia 2S4 

Filbert or Hazel-nut 321 

Flax 70 

" False 49 

Flea-bane, Canada 173 

Foxtail, Meadow 371 

Gingko or Jinkgo Tree 344 

Goats-ibot 151 

Goosefoot 271 

Grape, Fox 83 

Grass, Canary (Reed) 400 

" Couch or Quitch 391 

" Foxtail 405 

" Herd's or Red-top 374 

" Orchard 380 

Meadow (Common) 384 

" Velvet 397 

" Vernal (Sweet-scented). . . 399 

Grass, General structure of. 368 

Gromwell, Corn 244 

Groundsel 192 

Hemlock, Water 152 

" Poison 154 

Hickory, Mocker-nut 305 

Hop 300 

Hound's-tongue, Common 246 

Indian Corn. , 408 

Larkspur, Field 32 

Lucerne 100 

Madder, Plant , . 164 

459] 



460 KAMES OF THE PLANTS ILLt STKATED. 



Mallow, Common 64 

" Velvet-leaf or Indian. , 66 

Maple, Red 91 

Mayweed 186 

Milkweed.. 262 

Monkshood 33 

Mulberr}^, Paper, 296 

Mustard, Field 48 

Nettle, Horse 254 

'* Spurge 290 

" Stinging 298 

Nettle-tree 293 

Nightshade... 252 

Oak, Black 316 

'• Black Jack or Barren 314 

" Bur or Over-cup 308 

" Chestnut (Swamp) 310 

" Chestnut or Yellow 311 

^ Laurel or Shingle 313 

" Live 312 

" Pin or Swamp Spanish 317 

" Post or Rough 308 

" Red 317 

" Scarlet 316 

" Spanish 314 

" "White 309 

" Willow 313 

Oat 395 

Ox-eye Daisy or White- weed. . . 188 

Parsnip, Cow 148 

Parsley, Pool's 151 

Pea 94 

" Structure of. 95 

Peanut 104 

Pine 334 

Pinlv, Carolina 166 

riantain, Commoa 219 



Pagb 

Poison Ivy 80 

Polygonum, Pennsylvanian 280 

Poppy, Field 39 

" Prickly 41 

Purslane 62 

Radish, Cultivated 52 

'• Wild 53 

Ragweed, Great 177 

Rose 129 

Rue 74 

Sage, Garden 239 

Senna, Wild 109 

Shepherds Purse 51 

Snakeroot, Yirginia 269 

Soap wort 58 

Spanish Needles 184 

Spurrey • 61 

St. John'fi-wort 55 

Star-cucumber, One-seeded 141 

Strawberry 123 

Sumach, Poison 79 

" Sm.ooth 78 

Tear-thumb, Arrow-leaved 282 

Halberd-leaved ... 281 
Ten o'clock, or Star of Betlilehem 354 

Thistle, Canada 198 

Thorn-apple 258 

Timothy 373 

Toad-flax 225 

Tobacco 259 

" Indian 207 

Trumpet Creeper 221- 

Yirginia Creeper 85 ' 

Wax- work or Chmbiag Staff-tree 87 

Willow, White 329 

Winter-cherry 257 

Wormseed 271 



HEW AMERICAN FASM BOOK. 

OSIGIS'AILT BY 

AUTBOR Oy "dIS:3ASE3 0]P D01IE3TIO ANISIALS," AXO i^OPwIIEKLT SDITOK OP 
TUS " AUTEBICAX AGEICULTUKIST.'" 
KEYISED AUO EISTLAKGED BT 

j.UTKor. OP "A3iep.ica:t cattle," editop. ojt the "A3IEEICAN siror.T-no-=i4 

HEKD BOOS," ETC. 

c o ivTT s : 

tion of Worn-out Soils — Fertilizing 
Barren Lands — Utility of Birds— 
Fences — Hedges — Farm Eoads — 
Shade Trees— Wood Lands— Time 
of Catting Timber — Tools — Agri- 
cultural Education^of the Farmer. 
Chapter Xlil. — Farm Buildings— 
House — Barn — Sheds — Cisterns — 
Various other Outbuildings— Steam- 
ing Apparatus. 
Chapter XIV. — Domestic Animals 
— Breeding— Anatomy— Eespiratioa 
— Consumption of Food. 
Chap'JER XV.— Neat or Horned Cattle 
Devons — Herefords — Ayreshires — 
Galloways — Short - horns — Alder- 
neys or Jerseys — Dutch or Holstein 
— Management from Birth to MOk- 
ing, Labor, or Slaughter. 
Chapter XVI.— The Dairy- Milk- 
Butter— Cheese— DitTerent Kinds- 
Manner of Working. 
Chapter XVII. — Sheep — Merino- 
Saxon — South Down — The Long- 
wooled Breeds — Cotswold — Lincoln 
— Breeding — Management — Shep- 
herd Dogs. 

Chapter XVIIT.— The Horse— De- 
scription of Difierent Breeds— Their 
Various Uses — Breeding- Manage- 
ment. 

Chapter XIX. —The Ass— Mule — 
Comparative Labor of Working 
Animals. 

Chapter XX. — Swine — Dilferent 
Breeds — Breeding— liearing — Fat- 
tening — Curing Pork and Hams. 
Chapter XXI. — Poultry — Hens, or 
Barn-door Fowls — Turkey — Pea- 
cock—Guinea Hen— Goose — Duck 
— Honey Bees. 
Chapter XXII. — Diseases of Ani- 
mals—What Authority Shall We 
Adopt ? — Sheep — Swine — Treat- 
ment and Breeding of Horses. 
Chapter XXIII.— Conclusion— Gene- 
ral Remarks — The Farmer who 
Lives by his Occupation— The Ama- 
teur Farmer— Sundry Useful Tables. 
SEITT POST-PAID, PRICE $2.50. 

ORANGE JUBB COMPANY, 

245 B.*"oadway, New-York. 



Introductiois. — Tillage Husbandry 
I —Grazing — Feeding — Breeding — 
Planting, etc. 

Chapter I. — Soils — Classification — 
Description — Management — Pro- 
perties. 

Chapter H. — Inorganic Manures — 
Mineral — Stone — Earth — Phos- 
phatic. 

Chapter III. — Organic Manures — 
Their Composition — Animal--Vc- 
getable.' 

Chapter IV. — Irrigation and Drain- 
ing. 

Chapter V. — Mechanical Divisions 
of Soils — Spading — Plowing— Im- 
|)l3meat3. 

Ch.ipter VI.— The Grasses— Clovers 
— Meadows — Pastures — Compara- 
tive Values of Grasses — Implements 
for their Cultivation. 

Chapter VII. — Grain, and its Culti- 
vatioQ — Varieties — Growth — Har- 
vesting. 

Chapter VIII. — Leguminous Plants 
— Tiis Pea— Beau —English Field 
B3an— Tare or Vetch— Cultivation 
-Harvesting. 

Chapter IX.— Roots and Esculents- 
Varieties — Growth — Cultivation — • 
Securing the Crops — Uses— Nutri- 
tive Eiuivaloats ot Difierent Kinds 
of Forage. 

Chapter X.— Fruits— Apples— Cider 
— Vinegar — Pears — Quinces — Plums 
Peaches — Apricot ? — Nectarines — 
Smaller Friiito-Plan ting— Cultiva- 
tion-Gathering— Preserving. 

Chaptrr X[.— Miscellaneous Objects 
of Caltivation, aside from the Or- 
dinary Farm Crops— Broom-corn— 
Flax- Cotton— Hemp— Susjar Cane 
Sar:?hum— Maple Su?ar— Tobacco — 
Indi^,'o— Madder— Wood— Sumach— 
- Teasel — Mustard — Hops — Castor 
Beau. 

Chapter XII.— Aids and Objects of 
Agriculture — Rotation of Crops, 
and their Effects— Weeds— Restora- 



GASDEMIMG FOR PROFIT: 

A GUIDE TO THE SUCCESSFUL CULTIVATION OF THE 

MARKET AND FAMILY GAEDEM". 

By Petep. Henderson". 

This "work lias liaci a constant and remarkable sale ever since it "was issued, and 
the later enlarged and revised edition is as well received as "was the first. It was 
the first work on Market Gardening ever published in this country. Its author is 
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Avorkhe has recorded this experience, and given without reservation, the methods 
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It is a work for which there was an urgent demand before its issue, and one 
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Every thing is made perfectly plain, and "tlie subject treated in all its details, 
( '">ui the selection of the soil to preparing the products for market. 

CO^^TENTS. 

Men littocl for tho Business of Gardening. 

The Amount of Capital Required, and 

Working Force per Acre. 

Profits of Marlj;et Gardening. 

Location, Situation, and Laying Out. 

Soils, Drainage, and Preparation. 

Manures, Iraplements. 

Uses and Management of Cold Frames. 

Formation and Management of Hot-beds. 

Forcing Pits or Greenhouses. 

Seeds and Seed Raising. 

IIo"W, When, and Where to Sow Seeds. 

Transplanting Insects. 

Packing of Vegetables for Shipping. 

Preservation of Vegetables in Winter, 

Vegetables, their Varieties and Cultivation. 

In the last chapter, the most valuable kinds arc described, and i"ie cultura 
proper to each is given in detail. 

Sent post-paid, price $1.50. 



OEAHGE JUBB COWBAEY, 245 Brcadwa:r, Hew-Yor^ 



JUST FUBLISHED-, 



fcfi Plans i Ef erflm 




By 8. B, ^EEO, Architect. 




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Estimate of the Quantity of Every Article Used 

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PROFUSELY ILLUSTRATED. 12mo. PRICE, POST-PAID, $1.50. 

OEA^GS JUDD COMPANY, 245 Broadway, Hew York. 



cranberry Township, PA 16066 
(724)779-2111 



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V' Treatment Date 



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